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Daniel Lambert

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Daniel Lambert was a famous man from Leicester, England. He lived from 1770 to 1809.

Daniel Lambert
Daniel Lambert

He became known as one of the most unusual people in history. By 1805, he was the heaviest person ever recorded. He was a very strong and active man. He loved many different sports and animals.

Lambert engraving
Lambert engraving

He was even an expert at breeding hunting dogs.

Lambert's life changed as his weight grew. He was an apprentice at a factory in Birmingham for four years. In 1788, he returned to Leicester to work. He became the keeper of the local gaol, which is a place where people are held. He was a very respected worker there. He often helped the people in his care.

Lambert engraving
Lambert engraving

Even as he grew larger, he stayed very strong. He could carry heavy weights with ease. He once even fought a bear to save his dog.

His weight began to increase steadily around 1788. He told people he did not eat unusual amounts of food. He also said he did not drink alcohol.

Daniel Lambert
Daniel Lambert

By 1793, he weighed 426 pounds. By 1801, he reached 540 pounds. This made it hard for him to go hunting. In 1805, the gaol closed, and he lost his job. He could not find other work because of his size. This forced him to find a new way to earn money.

In 1806, Lambert moved to London to show himself to the public.

Daniel Lambert
Daniel Lambert

He lived at 53 Piccadilly and charged people one shilling to visit him. He was not just a spectacle to watch. He was very smart and loved to talk about animals. Many wealthy people visited him to hear his ideas. He even met King George III during this time. He became quite wealthy from these visitors. He eventually returned to Leicester in 1807.

Lambert died in June 1809 in Stamford, Lincolnshire.

Daniel Lambert grave
Daniel Lambert grave

At the time of his death, he weighed 739 pounds. His coffin was huge and made of 14 cubic feet of wood. It even had wheels to help move it. It still took 20 men almost half an hour to move it into his grave. He was buried near St Martin's Church. Today, he is still remembered as a cherished icon in Leicester.

Daniel Lambert grave
Daniel Lambert grave
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Bodleian Libraries, Two wonders of the...
File:Daniel Lambert.jpg
Daniel Lambert.jpg
File:Daniel Lambert grave.jpg
Daniel Lambert grave.jpg
File:Lambert engraving.jpg
Lambert engraving.jpg
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