Julius Koch (1872 – March 30, 1902), also known as Le Geant Constantin, was one of only 18 verified people who reached a height of over 8 feet.
Biography Julius Koch was born in 1872 in Germany and experienced gigantism from an early age, characterized by an enlarged pituitary gland, testicular atrophy, and a lack of sexual development, causing difficulties in walking.
His height, initially advertised as 8 feet 1 inch, was based on an estimate. After a series of falls resulting in severe leg injuries, his legs were amputated due to gangrene. While his promoted height was 8 feet 1 inch, the skeleton measures 8 feet 5 inches, suggesting a potential exaggeration.
Living concurrently with John Rogan, Koch likely never held the title of the world’s tallest man. At the age of 14, he was reported to have measured 6 feet 4 inches. Koch’s femurs were the longest ever recorded, and his hands were reportedly 1 foot 2.5 inches long. His feet were claimed to be of a certain length, although this remains unverified. Julius Koch passed away in Mons, Belgium, on March 30, 1902. His skeleton is preserved at the Museum of Natural History in Mons.
Koch gained fame as the star of an early short film, “The Giant Constantin,” released in 1902. In 1899, he made an appearance at the London Pavilion. From 1901 to 1902, he was featured as a fairground attraction in Mons.
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