The giant Magrath by Pietro Longhi in Ca' Rezzonico Venice">Ca'_Rezzonico.html" ;"title="Pietro Longhi in
Pietro Longhi in Ca' Rezzonico Venice
Cornelius Magrath (1736–1760) was an Irish people">Irish giant born in County Tipperary">Tipperary
Tipperary is the name of:
Places
*County Tipperary, a county in Ireland
**North Tipperary, a former administrative county based in Nenagh
**South Tipperary, a former administrative county based in Clonmel
*Tipperary (town), County Tipperary's na ...
. In 1752 he came to Cork for salt water treatments to alleviate the pain of his rapid growth. While there, many persuaded him to exhibit himself for pay.
In January 1753 he was already a huge star in London, England as the press noted: "Just arrived in this city, from Ireland, the youth, mentioned lately in the newspapers, as the most extraordinary production in nature. He is allowed by the nobility and gentry, who daily resort to see him, to have the most stupendous and gigantic form (altho' a boy), and is the only representation in the world of the ancient and magnificent giants of that kingdom. He is seven feet three inches in height, without shoes. His wrist measures a quarter of a yard and an inch. He greatly surpasses
Cajanus the Swede, in the just proportions of his limbs; and is the truest and best proportioned figure ever seen. He was sixteen years of age the 10th of last March and is to be seen at the Peacock, at Charing Cross, from eight in the morning, till ten at night."
After touring England the young Magrath did short stints throughout all of Europe, but in
Flanders
Flanders (, ; Dutch: ''Vlaanderen'' ) is the Flemish-speaking northern portion of Belgium and one of the communities, regions and language areas of Belgium. However, there are several overlapping definitions, including ones related to culture, ...
he was forced to return to his native Ireland as his health rapidly began to decline. He died soon after, and although he had made friends with students from nearby
Trinity College Trinity College may refer to:
Australia
* Trinity Anglican College, an Anglican coeducational primary and secondary school in , New South Wales
* Trinity Catholic College, Auburn, a coeducational school in the inner-western suburbs of Sydney, New ...
, they stole his body the very same day he died.
After dissection, his bones were preserved, where they still remain on display at Trinity College. They were described by
Sir George Humphry in his book ''A treatise on the human skeleton: (including the joints)''.
Physician D.J. Cunningham commented that the skeleton also exhibited marked signs of
acromegaly
Acromegaly is a disorder that results from excess growth hormone (GH) after the growth plates have closed. The initial symptom is typically enlargement of the hands and feet. There may also be an enlargement of the forehead, jaw, and nose. Other ...
.
Other notable giants whose bodies were stolen and later preserved were
Charles Byrne and
Daniel Mynheer Cajanus.
References
1736 births
1760 deaths
People with gigantism
People from County Tipperary
{{Ireland-bio-stub
