20150503

Heaviest human being recorded in the history of the world, buried in a piano case

Robert Earl Hughes (June 4, 1926 – July 10, 1958) was, during his lifetime, the heaviest human being recorded in the history of the world.

Hughes was born in Baylis, Illinois, in 1926. At the age of six, he weighed about 203 lb, at ten, he weighed 377 lb.

His excessive weight was attributed to a malfunctioning pituitary gland. He weighed an estimated 1069 lbs at his heaviest.

During his adult life, Hughes made guest appearances at carnivals and fairs; plans to appear on the Ed Sullivan television program were announced but never came about.

On July 10, 1958, Hughes contracted a case of measles, which soon developed into uremia, resulting in his death in Bremen, Indiana. He was 32 years old.

He is often said to have been buried in a piano case. This error stems from a sentence that appeared in successive editions of the Guinness Book of World Records, which read, "He was buried in a coffin the size of a piano case."

His headstone notes that he was the world's heaviest man at a confirmed 1,041 pounds.

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