William Bradley (giant)
Encyclopedia
Bradley was 5mm taller than Bao Xishun, who was recognized as world's tallest living man by Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
between 2005 and 2007.
Biography
Born in Market WeightonMarket Weighton
Market Weighton is a small town and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is one of the main market towns in the East Yorkshire Wolds and lies midway between Hull and York, about from either one...
within the East Riding of Yorkshire
East Riding of Yorkshire
The East Riding of Yorkshire, or simply East Yorkshire, is a local government district with unitary authority status, and a ceremonial county of England. For ceremonial purposes the county also includes the city of Kingston upon Hull, which is a separate unitary authority...
, William was the fourth son in a family of thirteen and weighed or 14 pounds (6.35 kg) at birth. His father, a master tailor measured 5 feet 9 inches, while his siblings and mother Anne were of average size, although one sister who died in an accident at age 16 was tall.
He was said to have been teased at school because of his height, though many students were scared of him. Teachers at the school were said to have punished misbehaving students by getting Bradley to lift them onto high cross beams, until the teacher decided to have them taken down again. After leaving school he worked on a farm near the town of Pocklington
Pocklington
Pocklington is a small market town and civil parish situated at the foot of the Yorkshire Wolds in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England, approximately east of York....
, earning less than 50p a week.
The Yorkshire Giant
Bradley travelled with a group of showmen under the alias of the Yorkshire Giant; at the time, the freak showFreak show
A freak show is an exhibition of biological rarities, referred to as "freaks of nature". Typical features would be physically unusual humans, such as those uncommonly large or small, those with both male and female secondary sexual characteristics, people with other extraordinary diseases and...
s were popular and would draw large crowds. As the tallest Britishman, Bradley was a prized asset in the business joining the huge Yorkshire Pig which was bred in Sancton
Sancton
Sancton is a village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately south east of the market town of Market Weighton on the A1034 road.The civil parish is formed by the village of Sancton and the hamlet of Houghton...
two miles from Market Weighton.
After touring many fairs up and down the country, including the Hull Fair
Hull Fair
Hull Fair is one of Europe's largest travelling funfairs, which comes to Hull, England for one week, from noon on Friday to midnight the following Saturday, encompassing the second Tuesday of October each year. The fair is open every day between these days except Sunday...
, he parted from his minder by 1815 to manage himself. He would charge a shilling for each person to visit him in a room which he hired in various towns. He was even presented before King George III at Windsor
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a medieval castle and royal residence in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, notable for its long association with the British royal family and its architecture. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I it...
who gave him a large golden watch on a chain, which he wore for the rest of his life.
Bradley died aged 33 in his hometown of Market Weighton, where he was buried inside the church because of fears of graverobbing. His house still stands on Market Hill and is now occupied by Bright Ideas.
Giant Bradley Day
An annual festival is organised in memory of William Bradley in his hometown of Market WeightonMarket Weighton
Market Weighton is a small town and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is one of the main market towns in the East Yorkshire Wolds and lies midway between Hull and York, about from either one...
. The event has been held annually in May since 1996 and is attended by hundreds of people in the town. It is a family-oriented event with games, amusement rides, stalls, and other attractions, including the famous "Weighton Lash". Christopher Greener
Christopher Greener
Christopher Paul Greener is the United Kingdom's second tallest British-born man at in height. His weight ranged from 20-30 stone during his adulthood. Greener, from a very young age, had a tumour at the base of his pituitary gland, which controls the release of human growth hormone...
who was the tallest living European for a period of time has taken part in the celebrations in the past.