Anna Haining Bates
A woman whose extraordinary height made her a global spectacle in the 19th century, navigating fame and family under the constant weight of public gaze.
1846–1888 (age 42)·Canadian woman notable for her great height·Birthday: August 6
Biography
Anna Haining Bates was born into an average-sized family of Scottish immigrants in Nova Scotia, but her life was destined to be measured on a different scale. By her late teens, she had grown to nearly eight feet tall, a fact that propelled her from a quiet Canadian life into the world of P.T. Barnum's American Museum. Billed as the 'Canadian Giantess,' she toured with Barnum's exhibits, where she met her future husband, Martin Van Buren Bates, the 'Kentucky Giant.' Their marriage created a sensational pair, and they leveraged their fame to build a remarkably normal life, constructing a house with oversized furniture and doors in Ohio. Anna gave birth to two children, a daughter who was, at over 23 pounds, the largest newborn ever recorded, though neither infant survived. Her story is one of navigating profound physical difference with dignity, finding partnership in unique circumstances, and crafting a private life within a very public frame.
#1 When Anna Was Born
The biggest hits of 1846
Anna's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1846Born
1851Started school
1859Became a teenager
1862Could drive
President: Abraham Lincoln
1864Could vote
President: Abraham Lincoln
1867Turned 21
President: Andrew Johnson
1876Turned 30
President: Ulysses S. Grant
1886Turned 40
Statue of Liberty dedicated in New York Harbor
President: Grover Cleveland
1888Died at 42
President: Grover Cleveland
Key Achievements
- Recognized as one of the tallest women in recorded medical history, reaching a height of 7 feet 11 inches.
- Alongside her equally tall husband, Martin Bates, she was a major attraction in P.T. Barnum's museum and touring shows in the post-Civil War era.
- Gave birth to the largest newborn ever documented, a baby girl weighing 23 pounds and measuring 30 inches long in 1879.
- Successfully transitioned from public exhibition to a settled private life, designing and building a custom home to accommodate their stature.
Did You Know?
Both of her parents were of average height, making her extreme stature a result of a pituitary gland condition.
She and her husband, Martin, were known to be skilled horse riders despite their size.
Their custom-built home in Seville, Ohio, featured doors over eight feet high and furniture built to scale.
She was known for her skill in sewing and knitting, creating garments for herself and her husband.
“My height is not a spectacle; it is simply the frame for my life.”
