John F. Carroll

{{Short description|American giant (1932–1969)}}

{{for|the Irish trade unionist|John Carroll (trade unionist)}}

{{other people||John Carroll (disambiguation){{!}}John Carroll}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2019}}

{{Infobox person

| name = John Francis Carroll

| image = John_F_Carrol.png

| other_names = Buffalo Giant, Big Red, Jack

| birth_date = 1932

| birth_place = Buffalo, New York, U.S.

| death_date = {{dda|1969|08|8|1932}}

| death_place = Lackawanna, New York, U.S.

| known_for = Third verified tallest human

| height_ft = 8

| height_in = 7.75

}}

John Francis Carroll (1932 – August 8, 1969) was an American giant and one of 23 known people in medical history to have reached a height of {{convert|8|ft|cm}}. He suffered from severe, 2-dimensional spinal curvature (Kyphoscoliosis) and acromegalic gigantism. He had a standing height of {{Convert|8|ft|1/4|in|cm|sigfig=3|abbr=on}} on October 14, 1959, at age 27, but according to calculations, his height would have been {{Convert|8|ft|8|in|cm|sigfig=3|abbr=on}}, assuming normal curvature of the spine. In 1968, he was later measured at {{Convert|7|ft|10+1/2|in|cm|sigfig=3|abbr=on}}, having shrunk in stature due to his worsening spinal condition.{{cite web |last1=Warner |first1=Gene |title=John Carroll, 'the Giant of South Buffalo,' will be remembered in Philadelphia museum |url=https://buffalonews.com/2015/11/07/john-carroll-the-giant-of-south-buffalo-will-be-remembered-in-philadelphia-museum/ |publisher=The Buffalo News |accessdate=February 15, 2019 |date=November 7, 2015}}{{cite journal |last1=Prezio |first1=Joseph A. |last2=Griffin |first2=Joseph E. |last3=O'Brien |first3=John J. |title=Acromegalic gigantism |journal=The American Journal of Medicine |date=December 1961 |volume=31 |issue=6 |pages=966–976 |doi=10.1016/0002-9343(61)90039-0 |pmid=14488703 |issn=0002-9343 |oclc=100758088}}

Carroll was born in Buffalo, New York, and was known as the Buffalo Giant in medical literature. He was third in stature only to Robert Wadlow and John Rogan. His extraordinary growth started at the age of 16. During his early life, his growth continued despite extensive treatments. At one point he grew {{convert|8|in|cm|spell=in}} in height in one year. As his condition worsened, his standing height decreased.

He died on August 8, 1969, and was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Lackawanna, New York.{{Cite news |date=August 12, 1969 |title=Isle View Park’s John F. Carroll Dies at Age 37 |pages=8 |work=Tonawanda News}}