Anna Haining Bates (née Swan; August 6, 1846 – August 5, 1888) was a Canadian woman notable for her great stature of . She was one of the tallest women who ever lived. Her parents were of average height and were Scottish immigrants.

Early life

thumb|Swan (centre) with her parents, who were both of average height

Anna Swan was born at Mill Brook, New Annan, Nova Scotia. of 13 children, all of the others being around average height. From birth she grew very rapidly. Anna's mother recalled that her daughter's growth rate was "phenomenal."

On her fourth birthday, Swan was tall and weighed . On her 6th birthday she was measured at tall, an inch or two (2.5–5 cm) shorter than her mother. On her 10th birthday she measured tall and weighed at . On her 11th birthday, she was measured at tall. On her 15th birthday Swan was measured at tall. She reached her full height three years later. Her feet were long.

Swan excelled at literature and music and was considered to be very intelligent. She also excelled at her studies of acting, piano and voice. On one occasion she played Lady Macbeth.

Circus career

When she was 17, Swan started working with American showman P. T. Barnum. She lived in Barnum's American Museum in New York City, and on July 13, 1865, she nearly burned to death when the museum was destroyed by fire. At the time she weighed 384 lb. (159 kg). Her highest recorded weight was 418 lb or just under 30 stone.

Swan later toured the western United States, followed by Europe where she appeared before Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. Queen Victoria gave Anna a satin gown and diamond ring, and gave Martin an engraved watch as gifts for their wedding. While touring in the summer of 1878, Anna was pregnant for the second time. The boy was born on January 18, 1879, and survived only 11 hours.

Later life

The Bateses retired to Seville, Ohio, where they built a mansion with high ceilings and door frames.

References

  • The Anna Swan Digital Collection
  • A giant of a woman: Anna Haining Swan ( 2009-10-25)
  • A photograph of Swan
  • An extensive historical page on Bates and her husband