Robert Earl Hughes (June 4, 1926 – July 10, 1958) was an American man who was, during his lifetime, the heaviest human being recorded, weighing . He remains the heaviest human in the world able to walk without the need of assistance.

Early life and family

Robert Hughes was born in

Monticello, Missouri Monticello is a rural village in, and county seat of, Lewis County, Missouri, United States, along the North Fabius River. The population was 104 at the 2020 census, and according to this census, Monticello is the county seat with the smallest ...

, the son of Abraham Guy Hughes (1878–1957) and Georgia Alice Weatharby (1906–1947). He was born "weighing a hefty but not abnormal" and was a "fairly average-size baby until he contracted

whooping cough Whooping cough ( or ), also known as pertussis or the 100-day cough, is a highly contagious, Vaccine-preventable diseases, vaccine-preventable Pathogenic bacteria, bacterial disease. Initial symptoms are usually similar to those of the common c ...

at about five months old." The family moved to Fishhook, Illinois, when Robert was six months old.

Career

Hughes made some income from selling photographs of himself. During his adult life, Hughes made guest appearances at carnivals and fairs. At age 27, he joined a traveling roadshow, often accompanied by some of his family. Plans to appear on ''

The Ed Sullivan Show ''The Ed Sullivan Show'' is an American television variety show that ran on CBS from June 20, 1948, to March 28, 1971, and was hosted by New York City, New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan. It was replaced in September 1971 by the ''CB ...

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television program were announced but never materialized. In 1957, traveling with his brother Guy and Guy's wife Lillian, Hughes had bookings throughout the country. Walking, even with his massive cane, had started to be difficult for the 31-year-old. While at a carnival, word reached Hughes that his father had died at age 79 back in Illinois. Guy and Lillian returned to Illinois for the funeral, but Robert stayed on, believing it was his duty to honour his commitments. At season's end, he returned to Guy's farm, unable to walk more than without the assistance of family members, who would follow closely, lugging a wide, steel-reinforced chair in case of exhaustion.

Death

While traveling with the roadshow in

Nappanee, Indiana Nappanee is a city in Elkhart County, Indiana, Elkhart and Kosciusko County, Indiana, Kosciusko counties in the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 6,648 as of the 2010 United States census, 2010 U.S. Census and had grown to 6,913 by the 20 ...

, Hughes developed a rash, and the flesh under his fingernails turned blue. Because he was unable to be moved to the nearest hospital in

Bremen, Indiana Bremen ( ) is a town in German Township, Marshall County, Indiana, United States. The population was 4,696 at the 2020 census. History Bremen was platted and laid out in 1851. A large portion of the early settlers being natives of Germany caus ...

, doctors treated him at his trailer, and determined he was suffering from

measles Measles (probably from Middle Dutch or Middle High German ''masel(e)'', meaning "blemish, blood blister") is a highly contagious, Vaccine-preventable diseases, vaccine-preventable infectious disease caused by Measles morbillivirus, measles v ...

. He developed

uremia Uremia is the condition of having high levels of urea in the blood. Urea is one of the primary components of urine. It can be defined as an excess in the blood of amino acid and protein metabolism end products, such as urea and creatinine, which ...

. He died on July 10, 1958, at the age of 32. He was buried in a small church cemetery in

Benville, Illinois Benville is an unincorporated community in Buckhorn Township, Brown County, Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. It borders on Lake Michigan to its northeast, the Mis ...

, in Brown County near his hometown, Fishhook. About 2,000 people attended the funeral.

Early life and family

Career

Death

See also

References

Further reading