Henry Alexander Cooper (1853–1899) #lastoftheoldworldgiants
The man in this photograph is Henry Alexander Cooper, a celebrated figure of the 19th century often billed by P.T. Barnum as "The Tallest Man in the World". Standing approximately 8 feet 6 inches (259 cm) tall, Cooper became a famous attraction in the Barnum and Bailey Circus.
Context of the Image
Who: Henry Alexander Cooper (1853–1899), known as the "Yorkshire Giant".
When: This specific carte de visite (a type of small photo card) dates to roughly 1883–1884.
Where: The photograph was taken by Baker Photographer in Columbus, Ohio, likely while Cooper was touring with the circus in America.
The Uniform
The attire Henry is wearing is a theatrical military-style costume rather than an official government-issued uniform.
Why: Circus performers like Cooper often wore ornate, embellished uniforms to enhance their commanding presence and "larger-than-life" stage persona. The stripes and decorative braiding were designed to mimic high-ranking military officers, adding to the spectacle of his height for paying audiences.
Status: It was an official promotional costume for his performances with Barnum and Bailey, used to make him appear more regal and distinguished during tours across America, Canada, and Europe.
Cooper eventually settled in Canada and passed away in Calgary in 1899 while still on tour.
Henry Alexander Cooper’s life began in northern England and ended while on tour in Canada.
Birth and Early Life
He was born on June 12, 1853, in Norton-on-Derwent, North Yorkshire, England. He was the son of a laborer and grew up in a working-class family.
His early years were quite ordinary, and he worked as a farmhand and later as an ironstone miner. It was only after a severe bout of fever (possibly typhoid) at age 16—which left him bedridden for 13 weeks—that he underwent an incredible growth spurt, gainning nearly 18 inches in height during his recovery.
Death
Henry died on August 16, 1899, at the age of 46. He passed away in a hospital in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, after falling ill while travelling with the Barnum and Bailey Circus.
Because he was far from home, his funeral was arranged by the local International Order of Oddfellows, and he was buried in an unmarked grave (later memorialised) in Calgary's Union Cemetery.
https://payhip.com/b/WT24o The Last of the Old World Giants.. Better quality unlimited shares.
The Last of the Old World Giants https://payhip.com/b/zX9oW
The Last of the Old World Giants looks at the hidden relatively recent history of Giants! Over 100 giants researched, named and remembered. Many more remembered only due to photographs that exist and are sometimes hidden by archive vaults. Tartaria and Tartarian giants, Circus and Military Giants, Giants in 18th and 19th century newspapers, Giants remains found and reported by media. Giant Warriors, Giants in Siberia, Giants in Asia, Magog and Gog, Gargantua AND MUCH MORE.. Over 800 pages, tons of photographs.