He always insisted he didn’t eat too much, but by the age of 30, his weight had reached 317 kg, with a massive waistline of nearly 3 meters.
In 1806, a strange advertisement appeared in a newspaper in London, England. It described a man as the “most curious man in the world”, piquing the curiosity of many, even though no one knew the truth behind it.
People were talking about Daniel Lambert, who weighed 317 kg. And if one wanted to see Daniel in person, they had to pay for the privilege.
The massive body of Daniel Lambert depicted in a painting.
Yes, that’s right! Daniel Lambert, dubbed the “fattest man in England” at the time, turned his enormous weight into a money-making machine. Initially, people came to see his physique, but they were later drawn in by his intelligence and conversational skills.
At a time when obesity was seen as a curiosity, Daniel Lambert became a legend…
How Did Daniel Lambert Gain Weight?
Born on March 13, 1770, in Leicester, England, Daniel Lambert was a strong, healthy boy who enjoyed otter hunting, horse racing, hunting, fishing, and dog breeding.
Daniel Lambert became a legend because of his large body.
Before becoming known for his massive size, Daniel Lambert showed himself to be a brave child with remarkable strength. As a teenager, while watching a bear performance, one of his dogs suddenly rushed in, provoking the animal to attack. Daniel fought it off with a pole.
A naturally active and strong person, Daniel Lambert eventually chose a rather sedentary job.
When his father, a local jailer, retired in the early 1790s, Daniel Lambert took over his position. The time spent “idly sitting around” in front of the prison led him to start gaining weight uncontrollably.
By 1793, Daniel Lambert weighed 203 kg. According to an article in The National, he was still healthy at that time. Daniel could lift a wooden block weighing up to 254 kg and even swam while carrying two men on his back. However, the idle job of jailer began to take its toll, and his weight kept increasing.
By the early 1800s, Daniel Lambert’s weight had risen to over 250 kg. At this point, he faced a dilemma. The prison where he worked closed down. As his finances dwindled and job opportunities became scarce, Daniel Lambert decided to turn his oversized appearance into a means of income.
Making Money from His Own Body
Instead of being discontent with his fate, Daniel Lambert transformed his enormous weight into a source of income.
In the spring of 1806, Daniel Lambert decided to move to London. This was easier said than done. At that time, he weighed 317 kg and was the heaviest man in history up to that point. According to English Eccentrics and Eccentricities, a special carriage was designed to accommodate Daniel’s massive frame.
Daniel Lambert then began executing his plan. He ran an advertisement in The Times that read: “EXHIBITION – DANIEL LAMBERT, from Leicester. The most curious man in the world, aged 36, weighing over 300 kg. Mr. Lambert will meet people at 53 Piccadilly, opposite St. James’ Church, from 12 PM to 5 PM.”
Hundreds of people flocked to see Daniel. The people of London were “captivated” by Daniel Lambert, who claimed he never drank alcohol and only ate a modest amount.
Daniel had a way with words and a sense of humor.
They also noticed that this man was quite the conversationalist, able to speak at length on topics like dog breeds and hunting.
A reporter from The Times noted after visiting Daniel Lambert: “A large number of fashionable guests have been at Mr. Lambert’s home over the past two days, looking for a man of unusual size, possessing a wealth of information, with the most genial and pleasant manners. His casual conversations exceeded our expectations.”
This reporter also remarked that there were more female guests than male, and the ladies praised Daniel Lambert’s “masculine and intelligent appearance.”
Before long, the story of Daniel’s enormous body became a topic of discussion throughout the region. All the citizens of London focused their attention when he received a visit from the renowned Polish dwarf, Count Józef Boruwłaski. Daniel even had an audience with King George III.
By the time Daniel returned to Leicester a few months later, he had become wealthy and was seen as a local hero.
On September 19, 1806, the Leicester Journal recorded Daniel Lambert’s presence grandly with the description: “Among the prominent figures on the field, we are glad to meet our old friend, Mr. Daniel Lambert. He clearly possesses good health and spirit.”
By the end of that year, Daniel embarked on a solo tour. His name attracted audiences in both London and nearby towns and cities. Henry Wilson, the author of a book on remarkable individuals in history, wrote that “thousands marveled at his remarkable figure.”
A Lasting Fame
In June 1809, Daniel Lambert went to Stamford for a performance. But this would be his final journey.
After checking into the Waggon and Horses Inn on June 20, 1809, while shaving, he began to have difficulty breathing. Within minutes, Daniel passed away at the age of 39.
At this time, arranging his funeral became a major issue. Local residents struggled to remove him from the inn and bury him.
According to city officials, they had to break the windows and part of the wall of the inn to place him in a coffin the size of a parking space. It took 20 men to carry Daniel’s coffin to the cemetery.
The tombstone and statue of Daniel Lambert.
After that, Daniel became a legend. Pubs were named after him. A giant wax figure was created in his image. “Daniel Lambert” became a phrase used to denote immense size.
Daniel was not the heaviest man in the world, as that title belongs to Jon Brower Minnoch from the United States, who weighed 635 kg. Nonetheless, he left an impressive legacy.
Clothes that Daniel once wore.
