1918-1940 IMPORTANT DATES PHOTO GALLERY GROWTH CHART LIFE STORIES ALTON MUSEUM GIFT SHOP HOME Robert Pershing Wadlow was born, educated and buried in Alton, Illinois. His height of 8' 11.1 qualifies him as the tallest person in history, as recorded in the Guinness Book of Records. At the time of his death he weighed 490 pounds. Robert was born on February 22, 1918, and weighed a normal eight ...