The largesT man in england

Stamford has received numerous prominent visitors of royalty and renown, including King Charles I, William III and novelist Sir Walter Scott. Perhaps one of its most characterful, Daniel Lambert, once the heaviest man in England, remains there, interred at St Martin’s Church. Lambert was born in 1770 in Leicester, where he succeeded his father as a gaoler, or jailer. He was a keen field sportsman, widely regarded for his knowledge on horses and dogs, which he bred, and fighting cocks. While working at the gaol, his weight began to increase significantly. He was, however, remarkably strong, reportedly able to carry 560lb (250kg) with ease. In 1805, the gaol was closed and Lambert withdrew into a reclusive life. Poverty eventually forced him to review his circumstances, and in 1806, despite his shyness, he put himself on exhibition in London where visitors paid one shilling to converse with him. By 1806 he had become quite wealthy and returned to Leicester. In 1809, he concluded a tour of East Anglia at Stamford, now weighing 52st 11lb (335 kg). The morning after his arrival, he suddenly collapsed and died, the cause unknown.