World's Largest Couple

Anna Haining Swan was born on August 06, 1846 at Mill Brook, Nova Scotia and weighed 18 pounds. At age 5, Anna Swan was 4 feet 8 inches tall, and full grown she reached a dizzying height of 7 feet 5 1/2 inches (about 228cm). Martin Van BurenMartin Van Buren Bates was born November 9, 1837 and was known as the 'Kentucky Giant', reportedly reaching a height of 7 feet 11 inches, but more accurately it was about 7 feet 2 1/2 inches (219cm).

When visiting a circus in Halifax with which Martin Van Buren Bates — another enormously tall person — was travelling, Anna was spotted by the promoter and was hired on the spot. The giant couple became a touring sensation and eventually fell in love, and on June 17, 1871, in St Martin-in-the-fields in London, they got married. Rev. Rupert Cochrane, a friend of Anna's family, who happened to be preaching in London at the time, agreed to conduct the ceremony. Despite his 6-feet-3-inch (1.91 m) stature, the Reverend looked small when standing next to the giant bride and groom. Their combined height was an astonishing 14 feet 8 inches (over 4,5 m).