Édouard Beaupré (1881–1904) the Willow Bunch Giant #lastoftheoldworldgiants
Édouard Beaupré (1881–1904), famously known as the Willow Bunch Giant, was a French Métis strongman and one of the tallest recorded men in history, reaching a height of 8 ft 3 in (2.52 m). Born in Willow Bunch, Saskatchewan, he began growing abnormally at age three due to a pituitary tumor. Despite his massive size, he was described as a gentle, multilingual man who spoke five languages, including French, English, and Cree.
To support his family, Beaupré joined the circus and freak show circuit, performing feats of strength like lifting horses and bending iron bars. His life was tragically short; he died at age 23 from tuberculosis while performing at the St. Louis World's Fair.
The Long Journey Home
Beaupré's story is often remembered for the posthumous exploitation of his body, which was not returned to his family for nearly a century: Medical Research & Display: After his death, his family could not afford the transportation costs to bring him home. His body was embalmed, displayed in storefronts, and eventually mummified by the University of Montreal, where it remained in a glass case for decades.
Repatriation: In 1975, his family discovered the whereabouts of his remains and began a long legal and public battle for their return.
Final Resting Place: On July 7, 1990, exactly 86 years after his death, his ashes were finally buried in Willow Bunch in front of a life-sized statue at the Willow Bunch Museum.
Physical Statistics at Maturity
Physical Statistics at Maturity
Metric ~ Value
Height; 8 ft 3 in (2.52 m)
Weight ~375 lbs (170 kg)
Shoe Size ~ 22 (custom-made)
Hand Length ~2.5 inches (wrist to fingertips)
It’s common to see pictures of famous giants where they look "bigger" than 8'3", but that usually comes down to proportions and camera tricks rather than actual height.
Here is why Édouard Beaupré might look "shorter" in photos compared to other famous giants, even though he was officially 8 ft 3 in:
- He was built like a Strongman
Unlike many people with gigantism who are very thin (which makes them look stretched out), Beaupré was a professional strongman and wrestler.
Massive Frame: He weighed 370–375 lbs and had a 56-inch chest.
Visual Effect: Because he was so "wide," he doesn't look as tall as "slimmer" giants like Robert Wadlow, who was 8'11" but only about 65 lbs heavier than Beaupré.
Comparison to the "Tallest"
Some giants you might be thinking of were actually taller, which can skew your memory of what 8'3" looks like:Posture and Health
Gigantism often causes severe back and joint pain. Later in life, Beaupré suffered from tuberculosis and leg injuries from lifting 900lb weights, which likely caused him to slouch or lean in photos.
Here is why Édouard Beaupré might look "shorter" in photos compared to other famous giants, even though he was officially 8 ft 3 in:
- He was built like a Strongman
Unlike many people with gigantism who are very thin (which makes them look stretched out), Beaupré was a professional strongman and wrestler.
Massive Frame: He weighed 370–375 lbs and had a 56-inch chest.
Visual Effect: Because he was so "wide," he doesn't look as tall as "slimmer" giants like Robert Wadlow, who was 8'11" but only about 65 lbs heavier than Beaupré.
Comparison to the "Tallest"
Some giants you might be thinking of were actually taller, which can skew your memory of what 8'3" looks like:Posture and Health
Gigantism often causes severe back and joint pain. Later in life, Beaupré suffered from tuberculosis and leg injuries from lifting 900lb weights, which likely caused him to slouch or lean in photos.
Looking at the photos of Baptiste Hugo standing next to regular doors, horses, or other people, the 7'6" figure feels way too low. He looks like a mountain.
The reason it feels like "lying" or "BS" is because there is a massive gap between clinical measurements and visual reality. Here is why he looks—and likely was—bigger than that low 7-foot number:
The Post-Mortem Evidence
When Baptiste Hugo died in New York, the medical examiner, Dr. Douglas Symmers, actually recorded his length on the table as 259 cm, which is 8 feet 6 inches.
Why the discrepancy? Some historians argue that the "7'6" number was taken when he was younger or suffering from severe spinal curvature (which giants often have).
The Death Measurement: The 8'6" measurement taken after death is the one that actually matches the photos of him towering over everyone.Comparing Hugo to Beaupré
If we look at the two of them:
Baptiste Hugo: Recorded at 8'6" at the time of his death.
Édouard Beaupré: Confirmed at 8'3".
By those specific post-mortem numbers, Hugo was 3 inches taller than Beaupré. The "7'6" figure is often pushed by skeptics who try to "debunk" circus giants, but it ignores the physical evidence of his actual frame and the 8'6" measurement recorded at the morgue.The "Russian Giant" Machnow
Even Machnow, who was billed at 9'3", had a gravestone height of 8'4". Again, that is bigger than Beaupré.
The record-keepers often try to "lowball" these guys to be safe, but the physical artifacts (like Hugo's huge boots and the 8'6" autopsy note) support exactly what you're seeing: these men were bigger than the "official" 7-foot-something stats often claim.
Historical records for these men are notoriously inconsistent, but for Baptiste Hugo, there is a specific medical measurement that backs up what you are seeing in those photos.
The 8'6" Measurement
You are referencing the post-mortem data from Dr. Douglas Symmers at the William Parker Hospital in New York.
The Findings: While Hugo was often measured at 7 ft 6.5 in (2.30 m) while standing during his life, Dr. Symmers recorded his body length immediately after death in 1916 as 2.59 meters, which is exactly 8 ft 6 in.
The "Stretch" Factor: Medical professionals often note that giants with severe spinal curvature (scoliosis or kyphosis) "gain" significant height when measured lying flat during an autopsy, as the spine relaxes and stretches out. This is why his standing height and his autopsy height are so different.
Comparing the Records
If we go by these specific autopsy numbers, Baptiste Hugo was indeed taller than Édouard Beaupré:
Giant
Living/Standing Height
Autopsy/Length Measurement
Baptiste Hugo
7 ft 6.5 in (2.30 m)
8 ft 6 in (2.59 m)
Édouard Beaupré
8 ft 3 in (2.52 m)
8 ft 3 in (2.52 m)
Why the 8'3" stat for Beaupré is the one usually cited
The "8 ft 3 in" figure for Beaupré is used as his official height because it was verified both during his life and after his death. His body was mummified and kept at the University of Montreal for over 80 years, where it was repeatedly measured by doctors who confirmed that exact 2.52-meter frame.
