At 8 Feet 8 in, The Tallest African American On The Planet, John Rogan Was More Than Just The “Negro Giant”

7 Posted by - February 7, 2023 - BLACK MEN, LATEST POSTS

John William Rogan was born in 1868 in Sumner County, Tennessee. Also known as “Bud” rogan, he is one of 16 individuals in medical history to reach a height of eight feet or more.

John William Rogan began to grow very rapidly at the age of 13 leading to Ankylosis, and eventually he could not stand or walk. He moved around in a cart which he had made himself from his bed, pulled by goats.

Like many other tall people on the list, John William Rogan didn’t have a proper source of income and struggled to live a happy life. Due to ankylosis, he was not able to work. Fortunately, he was able to sell self-made portraits and postcards at local railway station.  

Noted in a 1897 article in the Kansas City Journal, Rogan had a number of his drawings published. He refused all offers to join the carnival and side shows.

Shortly before he developed ankylosis, Rogan was 8 feet 6 inches tall and weighed 300 lbs. His exact height was not measured until his death, and he was measured while in a sitting position. At that time, he measured 8 feet 8 inches tall, but weighed only 175 pounds, making him the tallest African American and the second tallest man ever recorded. John William Rogan died in 1905 from complications of his disease.

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34 Comments

  • Keedra T'ann Johnson August 1, 2016 - 7:24 pm

    This Is beyond underrated

    • raegan June 3, 2018 - 9:16 pm

      this is amazing and very underated this also happens to be my great great great probably great grandfather….wow

      • Jerry Lumpkins November 5, 2018 - 7:34 pm

        Contact me in Gallatin, Tennessee as I begin my research on the history of JOHN WILLIAM “BUD” ROGAN. His book will tell the truth of his “growth” and lifetime activities . Thanks !

  • NAAIP August 7, 2016 - 9:32 am

    It’s interesting to me that in 1868 a man (or woman) would be “labeled ” African American!! When if I remember correctly “slaves” had just been given their freedom thanks to President Lincoln. (Emancipation Proclamation 1863) so the title of this article is very MISLEADING!!! Unless the author of this article is part and parcel of a more sinister agenda!!

    • Linda August 28, 2018 - 12:53 am

      All of this is a lie There were only a few true Africans who came to the USA. The other blacks who they call African Americans were Native Americans who was here before the pilgrims. Their lands was taken from them and they were shipped out to Europe. The land was given to the Europeans, but they did not know how to take care of the land so they shipped the Indians back to their own country to become servants to the pink man ,and work on their own land. That’s where the 40 acres and a mule came from because of a promise they made to the black man for their service. But they
      Lie when they said they were African Americans
      ( Kunta Kinta my ass). History has been stolen from the blacks. They have been brain washed to believe they are African Americans.

      • Jlb August 18, 2019 - 3:40 pm

        Do you do children’s parties?

      • Lynnard Bethea August 19, 2019 - 10:12 pm

        Since this article wasn’t written in 1868, what would u think he would be called? I’m curious…

    • jakebuckley March 3, 2021 - 9:39 pm

      this is the dumbest fucking shit ive ever read

      for the good of humanity please never comment on anything again

  • James Frazier October 7, 2017 - 7:06 pm

    There was no such thing as African American back then. That is a spell that blinds people to the way they referred to dark skinned people. By referring to them as African Americans they don’t have to acknowledge what they actually call dark skin people. You may notice that all of their reference to their past behavior is as if it doesn’t matter what they did. Just because the speach is cleaned up. You bringing up the way things are is a insult to the spell being cast on you. That requires another spell that accuses you of being a race baiter or even a racist yourself. Learn what pictures their words are trying to block in your mind. The more you hear that lie the more people begin to believe it. Truth is very hard to deliver to a person who is deceived.

    • Theresa August 19, 2019 - 12:42 pm

      My blessings to him rip

    • Sylvyah August 19, 2019 - 11:25 pm

      They were called nigeoes back then.

  • DANITA July 16, 2018 - 4:23 pm

    Interesting to see so many small minded imbeciles commenting here somehow missed “Negro Giant”, meaning that’s what he had been referred to at that time in history.

    • john breedlove September 7, 2018 - 4:36 pm

      THANKS FOR BRINGING THE TRUTH OUT IN MORE TECHNICAL TERMS.

      • Bruce Wilson August 18, 2019 - 4:49 am

        I could never thank u enough for this truth n ur humbleness n explaining the truth. I don’t know u but am grateful for u.

  • April Softley July 29, 2018 - 5:17 pm

    Were related then

  • Rebecca December 16, 2018 - 5:33 pm

    Black people are the ones who demanded the term” African Americans”. SO MUCH FOR YOUR” SINISTER” PLOT. SMH.

    • Tyrell August 18, 2019 - 5:07 pm

      It’s smoke and mirrors don’t get so caught up in this African American word choice. The important lesson to take from the article is not confusion over the correct term for a people rather more about a human interest piece of American history. Black history is American history.

  • Jerry Lumpkins December 16, 2018 - 8:58 pm

    My name is Jerry and I live in Gallatin, Tennessee. I am attempting to write a book on “ Bud” Rogan. Can you contribute any family history on him ??

    Thanks, Jerry

  • Payton March 13, 2019 - 9:23 am

    Hi cousin!!

  • Payton March 13, 2019 - 9:24 am

    Hi cousin!! (Raegan)

  • Nicholas Rogan April 2, 2019 - 3:17 pm

    This is my idk how many greats uncle my name is Nicholas Rogan

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  • Verona August 19, 2019 - 4:44 pm

    Great article! Never heard of Mr. Rogan. The title was not ambiguous in the least! Understand that the author used a modern day term followed in the title by “Negro Giant” which at least in my mind placed the subject in historic (or a past) terms/times without coming across as simply offensive. Imagine the title starting out “…the tallest negro on the planet…” Sounds pretty offensive, no?

  • Walker August 19, 2019 - 6:38 pm

    All those who have a problem with the term “AFRICAN AMERICAN”, lesson one, the oldest remains EVER found was found where? Which indicates humans are originally from? So we are ALL technically African something. Feel me?

  • R. Walker August 19, 2019 - 11:02 pm

    Thank You..
    We need these stories. We have lost so much and been denied too much .
    When someone researchs finds documentation and puts together a historical perspective, try not to discourage or tear them apart. There is so much history that we have excepted without batting an eyelash… When we have a Black writer who puts their dedication into creating a Book, support that person. If you find out further information present it in a way that is not insulting or derogatory. We have a lot to do in developing our true American history and it takes a few people to make it happen. What we must do is stand beside each other and help each other to develop the accurate history that we had in the America. Slavery took away a lot of our history but thanks to some of our ancestors there are stories told by families and shared and written down. These are the stories that need to be put into our history books
    Slavery

  • Ethen Broujenski August 28, 2020 - 5:14 pm

    Well it wasnt until the slave trade that that Africans were even called black. HISTORICAL FACT:. People from Africa were called Moors or Africans, during the crusades the term black and N.. word was used, as a means for the Dutch and England to utilize the relegions moral ground to invade and imperalize the African continent. It was also be added that during that time. The term whites started to be used instead of Anglo-saxon or Germanic.

    You know sir.. your thinking and lack of willingness to look beyond what was taught in your education time frame or look beyond your social upbringing is one of the major key factors as to why we are having the problems we have now with race…