John Francis Carroll | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1932 |
| Died | August 8, 1969 (aged 36–37) |
| Other names | Buffalo Giant, Big Red, Jack |
| Known for | Third verified tallest human |
| Height | 8 ft 8 in (264 cm) |
John Francis Carroll (1932 – August 8, 1969) was an American giant and one of 23 known people in medical history to have reached a height of 8 feet (240 cm). He suffered from severe, 2-dimensional spinal curvature (Kyphoscoliosis) and acromegalic gigantism. He had a standing height of 8 ft 1⁄4 in (244 cm) on October 14, 1959, at age 27, but according to calculations, his height would have been 8 ft 8 in (264 cm), assuming normal curvature of the spine. In 1968, he was later measured at 7 ft 10+1⁄2 in (240 cm), having shrunk in stature due to his worsening spinal condition.
Carroll was born in Buffalo, New York and was known as the Buffalo Giant in medical literature. He was third in stature only to Robert Wadlow and John Rogan. His extraordinary growth started at the age of sixteen. During his early life, his growth continued despite extensive treatments. At one point he grew eight inches (20 cm) in height in one year. As his condition worsened, his standing height decreased.
He died on August 8, 1969 and was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Lackawanna, New York.