Tallest married couple ever
Who
Anna Haining Swan and Martin Van Buren Bates
What
477.52 centimetre(s)
Where
United Kingdom (London,St Martin-in-the-Fields church in Trafalgar Square)
When

Anna Haining Swan (Canada, b. 6 August 1846; d. 5 August 1888) was said to be 246.38 cm (8 ft 1 in) but actually measured 241.3 cm (7 ft 11 in).

On 17 June 1871, she married Martin van Buren Bates (USA, b. 9 November 1837; d. 19 January 1919), who stood 236.22 cm (7 ft 9 in), making them the tallest married couple ever, with a combined height of 477.52 cm (15 ft 8 in).

Anna first met Martin, who stood at 236.22 cm (7 ft 9 in) tall, as a result of their respective sideshow careers. They both earned fame for their height and travelled in circus troupes both separately and as a pair.

After a two year relationship on 17 June 1871, Anna married Martin in London in front of a huge crowd of onlookers.

It has been reported that a Daily Telegraph article published at the time of the wedding commented: "A man may get used to being eight feet high, but to be eight feet high and to be stared at by a devout congregation of idlers on the occasion of marrying a lady who is eight feet high also is a trying conjunction of matters. However, Captain Bates got through his difficulties tolerably well".

The couple gave birth to the heaviest and longest baby ever recorded.

Image: Wikimedia Commons