Mr. Patrick O'Brien
MediumInk on paper
DimensionsHEIGHT: 8 3/4 × 5 1/2 in. (22.2 × 14 cm)
ClassificationsPrints
Credit LineTibbals Circus Collection
Object numberht8000363
Born in the seaside town of Kinsdale, Ireland in 1760 Patrick Cotter was the first documented person to reach a height greater than 8 feet. Working as a bricklayer in his youth, Cotter was spotted by a travelling showman who convinced the young man that he could make a better living exhibiting himself. Cotter took the stage name O’Brien inspired by a 10th century dynasty of Irish kings and began years of touring through the British Isles. He died from the effects of gigantism in 1806 at the age of 46.
Aware of the common practice of exhuming individuals to allow postmortem studies, Patrick O’Brien left money in his will to entomb his body within 12 feet of solid rock. While his wishes were followed, his body was accidentally exhumed by workmen in 1906. In 1972, his remains were exhumed again to be photographed and measured, affirming a height of 8 foot, 1 inch. When redevelopment plans threatened his final gravesite in 1986, O’Brien’s remains were cremated.
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