"Chang, the Giant, was buried at Bournemouth Cemetery in the same grave as his wife, who died in the early part of the year. The coffin was eight and a half feet long." The Giant was Chang Woo Gow and his remarkable height of nearly eight feet made him the world's tallest man. He came to Bournemouth in 1890, like many others of the time, hoping for a cure to his suspected TB. Chang was described by his close Bournemouth friend, William J. Day, who had been summoned by Chang to be beside him at his deathbed, as "a gentle giant, a giant of giants, great of stature, but with the kindest nature and a heart as true and tender as ever beat". Chang was born in 1841 in the port of Fy-chow, now in Canton Province, China. He was educated and traveled the world, spoke six languages (including English, French, German, Spanish and Japanese) had been the guest of monarchs and conversed with politicians, artists and scientists. He returned to China in the 1880's from Australia, having married there his Liverpool-born wife, Catherine, formerly Miss Santley. Famous and earning considerable money, he found himself losing as much by way of his generosity and good nature constantly being imposed upon. His family, with their two sons, moved to Britain, first to the Isle of Wight and finally settling in Bournemouth, and lived there until he died of a broken heart at the age of 52 just four months after his wife's death. Chang's wishes to keep his burial secret were honored and fewer than 50 people accompanied the polished oak coffin to offer their sympathy and condolences, but the whole town might have turned out otherwise to mourn his passing. William Day said that Chang "passed away among strangers in a foreign land, one of the noblest and gentlest of men".
"Chang, the Giant, was buried at Bournemouth Cemetery in the same grave as his wife, who died in the early part of the year. The coffin was eight and a half feet long." The Giant was Chang Woo Gow and his remarkable height of nearly eight feet made him the world's tallest man. He came to Bournemouth in 1890, like many others of the time, hoping for a cure to his suspected TB. Chang was described by his close Bournemouth friend, William J. Day, who had been summoned by Chang to be beside him at his deathbed, as "a gentle giant, a giant of giants, great of stature, but with the kindest nature and a heart as true and tender as ever beat". Chang was born in 1841 in the port of Fy-chow, now in Canton Province, China. He was educated and traveled the world, spoke six languages (including English, French, German, Spanish and Japanese) had been the guest of monarchs and conversed with politicians, artists and scientists. He returned to China in the 1880's from Australia, having married there his Liverpool-born wife, Catherine, formerly Miss Santley. Famous and earning considerable money, he found himself losing as much by way of his generosity and good nature constantly being imposed upon. His family, with their two sons, moved to Britain, first to the Isle of Wight and finally settling in Bournemouth, and lived there until he died of a broken heart at the age of 52 just four months after his wife's death. Chang's wishes to keep his burial secret were honored and fewer than 50 people accompanied the polished oak coffin to offer their sympathy and condolences, but the whole town might have turned out otherwise to mourn his passing. William Day said that Chang "passed away among strangers in a foreign land, one of the noblest and gentlest of men".
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