James Toller, known as the "Eynesbury Giant. #LASTOFTHEOLFWORLDGIANTS

The man in the engraving is James Toller, known as the "Eynesbury Giant," standing next to the Dutch dwarf Simon Paap.

James Toller (Right): A famous English giant who stood 8 feet tall at the time of his death. In this specific image, he is noted as being 19 years old and 8 feet high.

Simon Paap (Left): A well-known Dutch performer who stood only 28 inches high.
The Engraving: This print was published on May 1, 1817.

The Subjects: James Toller lived from 1798 to 1818. Simon Paap lived from 1789 to 1828. They were often exhibited together during this period to maximize the visual contrast for the public.

Where

Publication: The print was published by R.S. Kirby in London, as part of his "Wonderful Museum" series.

Exhibitions: These two were famous attractions at St. Bartholomew’s Fair in London and were even presented to the British Royal Family and the King of Prussia (who was famously obsessed with giants).

Key Facts about James Toller

Growth: Like many historical giants, his height was attributed to a pituitary condition. By age 18, he was already 8 feet tall.

Foot Size: His shoes were reportedly 15 inches long.

Grave Security: Because of the rampant grave-robbing for medical specimens in the early 1800s, Toller was so afraid of being stolen that he was buried inside Eynesbury Church under the floor of the vestry, rather than in the churchyard.

James Toller’s life was defined by a massive growth spurt that turned a normal village boy into a national sensation.

Early Life

Birth: He was born on August 28, 1798, in the small village of Eynesbury, Huntingdonshire, England.
A "Normal" Start: Unlike some historical giants, James was born a normal-sized baby. His rapid growth didn't begin until he was roughly ten years old.

The Growth Spurt: Once it started, his height increased so quickly that his family had to constantly alter his clothes. By the time he was 18 years old, he had reached his full height of 8 feet 1 inch.

Family Background

Parents: He was the son of Nicholas and Anne Toller. His father was a local labourer, and neither parent was unusually tall.

Siblings: He had several brothers and sisters. In a classic historical contrast, all of his siblings were of perfectly average height.

Support: His family was described as respectable and protective. They managed his early exhibitions themselves rather than selling his "contract" to a predatory showman, which was common at the time.

The King of Prussia Meeting

James's fame grew so large that in 1815, he was taken to London to be presented to the Allied Sovereigns.

The Meeting: He met the King of Prussia (Frederick William III), the successor of the king who started the Potsdam Giants.

The Offer: The King was so impressed by James’s 8-foot frame that he reportedly tried to recruit him for the Prussian guard, but James’s health was already beginning to fail.

Death and Burial

James's height took a severe toll on his heart and joints. He died on February 4, 1818, at the young age of 19.

Fear of Body Snatchers: Because "giant" skeletons were worth huge sums to medical schools, his family went to extreme lengths to protect his body.

The Tomb: He was not buried in the cemetery. Instead, he was buried under the floor of the Eynesbury Church vestry, beneath heavy stone slabs, to ensure no grave robbers could ever dig him up.
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