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{{Short description|Canadian woman notable for her great height (1846–1888)}} |
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{{Unreferenced|date=January 2007}} |
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[[Image:Anna Swan with her parents.jpg|thumb|150px|Anna Haining Bates with her parents]] |
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{{Infobox person |
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'''Anna Haining Bates''', [[born]] '''Anna Haining Swan''' ([[August 6]], [[1846]] – [[August 5]], [[1888]]), was a [[Canada|Canadian]] from [[Mill Brook, Nova Scotia|Mill Brook]], [[New Annan, Nova Scotia|New Annan]], (near present-day [[Tatamagouche]]), [[Colchester County, Nova Scotia|Colchester County]], [[Nova Scotia]] famed for her great height, believed to be 7 ft 11 in at the peak of her physical stature. She reportedly weighed 18 pounds (8.1 kg) when she was born and was twenty-seven inches (69 cm) long. Her parents were of average height and were [[Scottish people|Scottish]] immigrants. |
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| name = Anna Haining Bates |
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| image = Anna Swan with her parents.jpg |
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| alt = |
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| caption = Bates (centre) with her parents |
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| birth_name = Anna Haining Swan |
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| birth_date = {{Birth date|1846|8|6}} |
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| birth_place = Mill Brook, New Annan, [[Nova Scotia]], Canada |
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| death_date = {{Death date and age|1888|8|5|1846|8|6}} |
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| death_place = [[Seville, Ohio]], United States |
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| death_cause = |
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| nationality = [[Canadians|Canadian]] |
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| spouse = {{marriage|[[Martin Van Buren Bates]]|1871|<!--Year omitted per current instructions on Template:Marriage-->}} |
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| other_names = |
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| known_for = Record height<br>{{convert|7|ft|11|in|2}} |
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| occupation = Circus attraction |
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}} |
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'''Anna Haining Bates''' (née '''Swan'''; August 6, 1846 – August 5, 1888) was a [[Canadians|Canadian]] woman notable for her great stature of {{convert|7|ft|11|in|2}}.<ref name="biographi">{{Cite web |url=http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/swan_anna_haining_11E.html |title=Biography – SWAN, ANNA HAINING – Volume XI (1881-1890) – Dictionary of Canadian Biography |website=www.biographi.ca}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Tallest married couple ever |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/tallest-married-couple |website=Guinness World Records |access-date=March 29, 2022}}</ref> She was one of the [[List of tallest people#Women|tallest women who ever lived]]. Her parents were of average height and were [[Scottish people|Scottish]] immigrants. |
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==Early life== |
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Anna was the 3rd of 13 children, all also of around average height. From birth she grew very fast. On her 4th birthday she was 4 feet 6 inches (137 cm) tall. On her 6th birthday she was measured again, and she stood 5 foot 2 inches (157 cm) tall, an inch or two (2.5–5cm) shorter than her mother. On her 10th birthday she measured at just under 6 feet 2 inches tall (187 cm) tall. By her 15th birthday Anna Swan was measured at just over seven feet (213 cm) tall. She was discovered in the fall of [[1862]] by [[P.T. Barnum]], at which time she was 7 feet 2 and a half inches tall.{{Fact|date=January 2007}} She would reach her full height two years later, which was 7 feet 5 and a half inches tall. At first she refused Barnum's offer but agreed later, as he paid her handsomely. |
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Anna Swan was born at Mill Brook, [[West New Annan|New Annan]], [[Nova Scotia]].<ref name="biographi"/> At birth she weighed {{convert|13|lbs|2}}. She was the third<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nlc-bnc.ca/eppp-archive/100/200/301/ic/can_digital_collections/aswan/story/storyframe.htm |title=The Anna Swan Story |website=www.nlc-bnc.ca |access-date=August 10, 2018}}</ref> of 13 children, all of the others being around average height. From birth she grew very rapidly. Anna's mother recalled that her daughter's growth rate was "Phenomenal".<Ref>San Francisco Chronicle - 27 Aug 1888 - Page 5</Ref> On her fourth birthday she was {{convert|4|ft|6|in|cm|abbr=off}} tall and weighed {{convert|94|lbs|2}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nlc-bnc.ca/eppp-archive/100/200/301/ic/can_digital_collections/aswan/story/storyframe.htm |title=The Anna Swan Story<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=October 1, 2021 |archive-date=May 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220506064007/https://www.nlc-bnc.ca/eppp-archive/100/200/301/ic/can_digital_collections/aswan/story/storyframe.htm |url-status=dead}}</ref> On her 6th birthday she was measured at {{convert|5|ft|2|in|cm|2|abbr=off}} tall, an inch or two (2.5–5 cm) shorter than her mother. On her 10th birthday she measured {{convert|6|ft|1|in|cm}} tall and weighed at {{convert|203|lbs|2}}. |
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On her 11th birthday, she was measured at {{convert|6|ft|4|in|cm|2|abbr=off}} tall. <Ref>San Francisco Chronicle - August 27, 1888 - Page 5.</ref> On her 15th birthday Swan was measured at {{convert|7|ft|0|in|cm|2|abbr=off}} tall. She reached her full height three years later. Her feet were {{convert|14.2|in|cm}} long. |
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She had to be rescued from a fire at Barnum's museum in July [[1865]]. The stairs were in flames but she was too large to escape through a window. In her fear she bowled over the men sent to help her. Employees of the museum found a loft derrick nearby, smashed the wall around a window on the third floor, and lowered Anna by block and tackle with 18 men holding the end of the rope. At the time Anna weighed 394 pounds or 28 stone 2 pounds (179 kg). Usually however, her weight was around 25 stones or 350 pounds. |
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==Circus career== |
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When visiting a circus in [[Halifax (former city), Nova Scotia|Halifax]] with which [[Martin Van Buren Bates]] — another enormously tall person — was travelling, Anna was spotted by the promoter and hired on the spot. The giant couple became a touring sensation and eventually fell in love and, on [[17 June]] [[1871]] in [[St Martin-in-the-fields]] in [[London]], they married. Rev. Rupert Cochrane, a 6 foot 3 inch tall native of Halifax, Nova Scotia, was conducting the ceremony. Despite his height, he looked small when standing near Anna Swan. Cochrane was a friend of Anna's family who happened to be preaching in London at the time. |
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When she was 17, Swan started working with American showman [[P. T. Barnum]].<ref name="nickell">{{Cite book |last=Nickell |first=Joe |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/65377460 |title=Secrets of the sideshows |date=2005 |publisher=University Press of Kentucky |isbn=0-8131-7179-2 |location=Lexington, Ky. |oclc=65377460|author-link=Joe Nickell}}</ref>{{rp|86}} She lived in [[Barnum's American Museum]] in New York City, and on July 13, 1865 she nearly burned to death when the museum was destroyed by fire. The stairs were in flames and she was too large to escape through a window. At the time she weighed 384 lb. (159 kg). Her highest recorded weight was 418 lb or just under 30 [[stone (unit)|stone]]s.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/the-tallest-tale-from-biggest-top/ |title=PT Barnum's Greatest Show-woman: Story of Scottish giantess Anna Swan to be explored in new historical TV series - The Sunday Post|date=September 17, 2018 }}</ref> She got help and escaped safely. |
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[[File:The marriage of Captain Martin van Buren to Anna Swan. Wood Wellcome V0007376.jpg|left|thumb|The marriage of Martin Bates to Anna Swan, 1871]] |
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Swan later toured the western United States, followed by Europe where she appeared before [[Queen Victoria]].<ref name="nickell" />{{rp|86}} When visiting a circus in [[Halifax (former city), Nova Scotia|Halifax]] with which [[Martin Van Buren Bates]]—another enormously tall person known as the "Kentucky Giant"—was travelling, Swan was spotted by the promoter and hired on the spot. The giant couple became a touring sensation and eventually fell in love; they married on June 17, 1871, in [[St Martin-in-the-Fields]] in London. Queen Victoria gave Anna a satin gown and diamond ring, and gave Martin an engraved watch.<ref name="nickell" />{{rp|87}} |
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==Children== |
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They had two children, the first being a girl who was still-born on [[19 May]] [[1872]]. The girl was the same size as her mother was at her own birth. The Bates family moved to Seville, Ohio, in June [[1874]] on their return from the [[United Kingdom]]. They purchased 120 acres of land and had furniture made to their specifications. Martin supervised the construction of the house. The main part of the house had 14 foot high ceilings, while the doors were extra wide and were 8 and a 1/2 feet tall. The back part of the house was built an average size for servants and guests. |
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Bates conceived two children with Martin.<ref name="nickell" />{{rp|87-88}} The first was a girl born on May 19, 1872; she weighed {{convert|18|lbs|2}} and died at birth.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.planetslade.com/the-giants-wedding.html|title=The Giants' Wedding - Paul Slade - Journalist |website=www.planetslade.com |access-date=August 10, 2018}}</ref> While touring in the summer of 1878, Anna was pregnant for the second time. The boy was born on January 18, 1879, and survived only 11 hours.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/swan_anna_haining_11E.html |title=Biography – SWAN, ANNA HAINING – Volume XI (1881-1890) – Dictionary of Canadian Biography |website=biographi.ca |access-date=August 10, 2018}}</ref> Named just "Babe" he was said by his father to have had the appearance of a perfect 6-month-old. He was the largest newborn ever recorded, at {{convert|22|lb|kg}} and 28 inches tall (c. 72 cm); each of his feet was {{convert|6|in|mm|spell=in}} long. He was posthumously awarded a [[Guinness World Record]] as the heaviest new-born baby and the longest.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/heaviest-birth |title=Heaviest birth}}. Guinness World Records. "Anna Bates... gave birth to a boy weighing {{convert|9.98|kg|lb|abbr=on}} and measuring {{convert|71.12|cm|in|abbr=on}} at her home in Seville, Ohio, on January 19, 1879."</ref> |
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Whilst touring in the summer of [[1878]], Anna found that she was pregnant for the second time. Anna went into labour on [[January 15]], 1879. Anna continued in the first stages of labour for 36 hours, at which time hard labour began. Dr. Beach, their physician, realized that the birth wasn't going in a normal direction and tried using forceps, but the baby's head was too large. He called another Doctor who also tried using forceps. They put a strong bandage around the baby's neck to assist with the delivery. The baby was born on [[19 January]], but he survived only a day. He was the largest newborn ever recorded, at 10.6 kg, or 22 pounds and 28 inches (71 centimeters) tall and each of his feet was six inches long. |
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==Later life== |
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To help take their minds off their baby's death, the Bates' rejoined touring with W.W. Cole in the [[summer]] of [[1879]], and again in the [[Spring (season)|spring]] of [[1880]], but that was to be their final ever tour and they retired after that. |
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The Bateses retired to [[Seville, Ohio]], where they built a mansion with high ceilings and door frames.<ref name="nickell" />{{rp|87}} The main part of the house had {{convert|14|ft|m|spell=in|adj=on}} ceilings, while the doors were extra wide and were {{convert|8|ft|m|spell=in}} tall. The back part of the house was built an average size for servants and guests. |
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The remaining years of Anna's life were spent quietly on the farm that she and her husband owned, mostly away from the [[limelight]]. She had joined the local [[Baptist Church]] in [[1877]] and attended services, with her husband on a Sunday, up to her death. The [[pew]] in which they sat had to be enlarged and modified so they could sit comfortably. Anna sometimes taught [[Sunday School]] there. |
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They resumed touring with the [[Cole Bros. Circus|W. W. Cole Circus]] in the summer of 1879, and again in the spring of 1880, which was her final ever tour. After that, Bates spent her remaining years quietly on the farm that she and her husband owned. She had joined the local [[Baptist Church]] in 1877 and attended services with her husband until shortly before her death. |
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Anna Swan died suddenly and unexpectedly at her home on [[5 August]] [[1888]] just one day before her 42nd birthday. She succumbed to [[heart failure]] after struggling with a [[goitre|thyroid goitre]] for some time previously. |
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==Death== |
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After his wife's [[death]], Captain Bates wired [[Cleveland]], Ohio, for a coffin. A standard size coffin was sent as they believed that the wire was a mistake. Furious about this, Bates contacted them again to say that his first wire was correct. The [[funeral]] had to be delayed as it took the coffin three further days to arrive. Anna was finally buried on Monday [[13 August]]. Bates took no chances with his funeral, and kept his coffin in a barn for when he died in January [[1919]]. |
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Anna Bates died suddenly and unexpectedly of [[heart failure]] in her sleep at her home on August 5, 1888, one day before her 42nd birthday. |
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Anna, Martin and their children are buried in Mound Hill Cemetery, [[Seville, Ohio|Seville]], Ohio. Nearby is Anna's sister Maggie, who died from [[Tubercolosis]] in the spring of [[1875]] aged 22. |
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The cause of her height was never discovered in her lifetime. [[X-ray]]s were not discovered until 1895, so it could not be ascertained if she had a [[pituitary tumor]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/german-scientist-discovers-x-rays |title=Scientist Discovers X-rays - HISTORY<!-- Bot generated title -->}}</ref> |
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==See also== |
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*[[List of famous tall women]] |
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==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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* [https://epe.lac-bac.gc.ca/100/205/301/ic/cdc/aswan/index.htm The Anna Swan Digital Collection] |
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*[http://www.geocities.com/weallcamefromsomewhere/Women/anna_swan.html ''A giant of a woman: Anna Haining Swan''] |
* [http://www.geocities.com/weallcamefromsomewhere/Women/anna_swan.html ''A giant of a woman: Anna Haining Swan''] ({{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091028124742/http://www.geocities.com/weallcamefromsomewhere/Women/anna_swan.html |date=October 28, 2009 }} 2009-10-25) |
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*[http://www.biographi.ca/EN/ShowBio.asp?BioId=39981 Biography at the ''Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online''] |
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*[ |
* [https://www.tngenweb.org/scott/images/bates_anna_hannon.jpg A photograph of Swan] |
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* [http://yeahpot.com/bates/giant.php An extensive historical page] on Bates and her husband |
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* {{findagrave|7720739|Anna Haining Bates}} |
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{{Barnum}} |
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{{Authority control}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Bates, Anna Haining}} |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:1846 births]] |
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[[Category:1888 deaths]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Canadian people of Scottish descent]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:World record holders]] |
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[[Category:People from Seville, Ohio]] |
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[[Category:People with gigantism]] |
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[[Category:Pre-Confederation Nova Scotia people]] |
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[[Category:Sideshow performers]] |
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[[Category:Persons of National Historic Significance (Canada)]] |
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Latest revision as of 13:02, 2 January 2025
Anna Haining Bates | |
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 Bates (centre) with her parents | |
| Born | Anna Haining Swan August 6, 1846 Mill Brook, New Annan, Nova Scotia, Canada |
| Died | August 5, 1888 (aged 41) Seville, Ohio, United States |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Occupation | Circus attraction |
| Known for | Record height 7 feet 11 inches (2.41 m) |
| Spouse | |
Anna Haining Bates (née Swan; August 6, 1846 – August 5, 1888) was a Canadian woman notable for her great stature of 7 feet 11 inches (2.41 m).[1][2] She was one of the tallest women who ever lived. Her parents were of average height and were Scottish immigrants.
Early life
[edit]Anna Swan was born at Mill Brook, New Annan, Nova Scotia.[1] At birth she weighed 13 pounds (5.90 kg). She was the third[3] of 13 children, all of the others being around average height. From birth she grew very rapidly. Anna's mother recalled that her daughter's growth rate was "Phenomenal".[4] On her fourth birthday she was 4 feet 6 inches (137 centimetres) tall and weighed 94 pounds (42.64 kg).[5] On her 6th birthday she was measured at 5 feet 2 inches (157.48 centimetres) tall, an inch or two (2.5–5 cm) shorter than her mother. On her 10th birthday she measured 6 feet 1 inch (185 cm) tall and weighed at 203 pounds (92.08 kg).
On her 11th birthday, she was measured at 6 feet 4 inches (193.04 centimetres) tall. [6] On her 15th birthday Swan was measured at 7 feet 0 inches (213.36 centimetres) tall. She reached her full height three years later. Her feet were 14.2 inches (36 cm) long.
Swan excelled at literature and music and was considered to be very intelligent. She also excelled at her studies of acting, piano and voice. On one occasion she played Lady Macbeth.
Circus career
[edit]When she was 17, Swan started working with American showman P. T. Barnum.[7]: 86 She lived in Barnum's American Museum in New York City, and on July 13, 1865 she nearly burned to death when the museum was destroyed by fire. The stairs were in flames and she was too large to escape through a window. At the time she weighed 384 lb. (159 kg). Her highest recorded weight was 418 lb or just under 30 stones.[8] She got help and escaped safely.
Swan later toured the western United States, followed by Europe where she appeared before Queen Victoria.[7]: 86 When visiting a circus in Halifax with which Martin Van Buren Bates—another enormously tall person known as the "Kentucky Giant"—was travelling, Swan was spotted by the promoter and hired on the spot. The giant couple became a touring sensation and eventually fell in love; they married on June 17, 1871, in St Martin-in-the-Fields in London. Queen Victoria gave Anna a satin gown and diamond ring, and gave Martin an engraved watch.[7]: 87
Children
[edit]Bates conceived two children with Martin.[7]: 87–88 The first was a girl born on May 19, 1872; she weighed 18 pounds (8.16 kg) and died at birth.[9] While touring in the summer of 1878, Anna was pregnant for the second time. The boy was born on January 18, 1879, and survived only 11 hours.[10] Named just "Babe" he was said by his father to have had the appearance of a perfect 6-month-old. He was the largest newborn ever recorded, at 22 pounds (10.0 kg) and 28 inches tall (c. 72 cm); each of his feet was six inches (150 mm) long. He was posthumously awarded a Guinness World Record as the heaviest new-born baby and the longest.[11]
Later life
[edit]The Bateses retired to Seville, Ohio, where they built a mansion with high ceilings and door frames.[7]: 87 The main part of the house had fourteen-foot (4.3 m) ceilings, while the doors were extra wide and were eight feet (2.4 m) tall. The back part of the house was built an average size for servants and guests.
They resumed touring with the W. W. Cole Circus in the summer of 1879, and again in the spring of 1880, which was her final ever tour. After that, Bates spent her remaining years quietly on the farm that she and her husband owned. She had joined the local Baptist Church in 1877 and attended services with her husband until shortly before her death.
Death
[edit]Anna Bates died suddenly and unexpectedly of heart failure in her sleep at her home on August 5, 1888, one day before her 42nd birthday.
The cause of her height was never discovered in her lifetime. X-rays were not discovered until 1895, so it could not be ascertained if she had a pituitary tumor.[12]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Biography – SWAN, ANNA HAINING – Volume XI (1881-1890) – Dictionary of Canadian Biography". www.biographi.ca.
- ^ "Tallest married couple ever". Guinness World Records. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
- ^ "The Anna Swan Story". www.nlc-bnc.ca. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
- ^ San Francisco Chronicle - 27 Aug 1888 - Page 5
- ^ "The Anna Swan Story". Archived from the original on May 6, 2022. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
- ^ San Francisco Chronicle - August 27, 1888 - Page 5.
- ^ a b c d e Nickell, Joe (2005). Secrets of the sideshows. Lexington, Ky.: University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 0-8131-7179-2. OCLC 65377460.
- ^ "PT Barnum's Greatest Show-woman: Story of Scottish giantess Anna Swan to be explored in new historical TV series - The Sunday Post". September 17, 2018.
- ^ "The Giants' Wedding - Paul Slade - Journalist". www.planetslade.com. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
- ^ "Biography – SWAN, ANNA HAINING – Volume XI (1881-1890) – Dictionary of Canadian Biography". biographi.ca. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
- ^ "Heaviest birth".. Guinness World Records. "Anna Bates... gave birth to a boy weighing 9.98 kg (22.0 lb) and measuring 71.12 cm (28.00 in) at her home in Seville, Ohio, on January 19, 1879."
- ^ "Scientist Discovers X-rays - HISTORY".
External links
[edit]- The Anna Swan Digital Collection
- A giant of a woman: Anna Haining Swan (Archived October 28, 2009, at the Wayback Machine 2009-10-25)
- A photograph of Swan
- An extensive historical page on Bates and her husband
- Anna Haining Bates at Find a Grave
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