Anna SwanBorn in New Annan, NS, weighing 18 pounds (8,16 kg)4 years old: 4 feet 6 inches tall
(1,93 m), displayed in Halifax as the “Infant Giantess”Enjoyed music and literature15 to 17 years old: offered a job in a museum in New York“The Tallest Woman in the World”: 8 feet 1 inch (4,26 m), playing the piano, acting in plays and giving lectures Library and Archives Canada
Karen Soarele
People who saw her for the first time thought she had some kind of mental impairment, because she looked like a grown woman playing like a child. In fact, she was a child!
Karen Soarele
And she wasn’t impaired. When she grown up a little, she developed interest for music and literature, and she was considered an intelligent young woman.
Karen Soarele
But, yeah, she was big. Even before going to school, she was too big for the desks. People in the community supported her, modifying her table, and, from time to time, her father had to enlarge her bed and her room.
Karen Soarele
When she was fifteen, she was offered a job in a museum in New York. It was like a Freak Show. She denied in the beginning, and she went to Truro to further her education. But it didn’t went well, so she considered the offer.
Karen Soarele
At age of seventeen she moved to New York. Her salary was one thousand dollars per month, which was an enormous amount in 1863, she had comfortable accommodations, the finest clothes and a female tutor and companion. She was a giantess, but she was also a delicate, victorian maiden.
Karen Soarele
Her height was, then, 8 feet 1 inch, using a particular hair style.
Karen Soarele
In this circus, called "Barnum’s American Museum”, she got known as “The tallest woman in the world”, and her performance included playing the piano, acting in plays and giving lectures.
1863: Went to England and met Queen Victoria1865: Fire at the museumToured the United States, Nova Scotia and Europe1871: Married Martin Bates, the “Kentucky Giant”1874: Built a giant house in OhioSecond son: 22 pounds (9.98 kg), 28 in (71.12 cm) – Guinness World Records1888: Died of unexpected heart failure
Anna Swan
Library and Archives Canada
Karen Soarele
In 1863, Anna went on her first trip to England, where she was presented to Queen Victoria, and the queen was impressed by Anna’s size and good manners.
Karen Soarele
In 1865, the museum caught fire! Anna was trapped inside, and was the last one to be rescued. Because she was too big and heavy, she couldn’t flee from her room on the third floor. The stairs on fire wound’t support her. It was required a derrick and eighteen men to save her.
Karen Soarele
She toured the United States, Nova Scotia and Europe, and got married to Martin Bates, the “Kentucky Giant”. They even met Queen Victoria again, receiving wedding gifts from her.
Karen Soarele
They toured Europe, was presented to the Prince Edward of Wales, to the Prince John of Luxembourg and to Duke Vladimir from Russia.
Karen Soarele
They bought a property in Ohio, United States, where Martin had a giant house built, with giant furniture. After so many years of discomfort, they saw their guests having to climb the chairs. In this house Anna had a monkey called Buttons.
Karen Soarele
Anna always liked children, but, tragically, both her sons died shortly after birth. The second one is still on record as the largest baby ever born.
Karen Soarele
Anna passed away in 1888, leaving behind a large inheritance for her family. The company that would provide the coffin thought there was a mistake on the dimensions and sent a regular size, which delayed the burial.
–Anna Swan’s grandmother
“Stand tall, lass, and be proud of your highland
ancestry.”
Karen Soarele
Anna Swan hated to be different. People stared and made rude questions to her. But she overcame the difficulties and accomplished marvelous things.One of the reasons she was successful is because she always had support from her entire family. So, I want to share with you something her grandmother used to tell her and that helped give her a sense of self-worth.
ReferencesForster, M. (2011). 100 More Canadian Heroines: Famous and
Forgotten Faces. Toronto, ON: Dundurn.Guinness World Records. (n.d.). Heaviest birth. Retrieved from
Library and Archives Canada. (1998). Anna Swan: Nova Scotia’s Remarkable Giantess. Retrieved from http://www.nlc-bnc.ca/eppp-archive/100/200/301/ic/can_digital_collections/aswan/index.htm
