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Wedding of Anna Haining Swan and Martin Van Buren Bates
Anna Haining Swan and Martin Van Buren Bates, 2.41 meters and 2.36 meters tall respectively, became well-known due to their remarkable stature. The couple even had a baby that remains the largest on record.
Anna Haining Swan was born on August 6, 1846, in Tatamagouche, Canada, surprising her parents with an impressive weight of 7.26 kilos at birth. From an early age, he demonstrated unusual growth, reaching 1.35 meters before the age of four and surpassing his father at 11, with 1.88 meters and almost 91 kg. At 17 years old, already 2.41 meters tall, her height caught the attention of PT Barnum, who hired her to work at the New York Museum.
Her museum career made her a popular attraction, especially when featured alongside Tom Thumb, known for his short stature. However, the work had dangers. In 1865, a fire in the museum almost cost him his life, as its size made it difficult to exit through the windows and it took a crane to save it. After a second fire in 1868, Anna decided to return to Canada
However, an invitation from Barnum to tour the United States in 1869 changed his life. Along the way, Anna met Martin Van Buren Bates, a 2.36 meter tall man, with whom she shared an immediate bond.
The couple, nicknamed “The Tallest Couple in the World“, married in 1871 in London, receiving gifts from figures such as Queen Victoria, who sent them gold watches studded with diamonds. After their marriage, they settled in Seville, Ohio, in a house specially adapted to their height, with 14-foot ceilings and tall, wide doors, says the .
The couple also faced family tragedies. Anna gave birth to two children, a girl and a boy, both of exceptional size and who died shortly after birth. The youngest, nicknamed Babe, is still the longest and heaviest baby ever, with 71.12 centimeters long and 9.98 kilospoints out .
Following these losses, the couple toured briefly with the WW Cole Circus before retiring.
Anna died in 1888, aged 41. Her husband commissioned a 15-foot statue of a Greek goddess to adorn her tomb. Martin died in 1919 and was buried next to her, ending the story of a couple who defied the limits of biology and captured the world’s imagination.
