Robert Earl Hughes
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Robert Earl Hughes (June 4, 1926 – July 10, 1958) was an American man who was, during his lifetime, the heaviest human being recorded, weighing Template:Convert.<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He remains the heaviest human in the world able to walk without the need of assistance.
Early life and family
Robert Hughes was born in Monticello, Missouri, the son of Abraham Guy Hughes (1878–1957) and Georgia Alice Weatharby (1906–1947). He was born "weighing a hefty but not abnormal" Template:Convert<ref name="hwhig2007">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name= Life>Template:Cite magazine</ref> and was a "fairly average-size baby until he contracted whooping cough at about five months old."<ref name= FH>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The family moved to Fishhook, Illinois, when Robert was six months old.<ref name= hwhig2007 />
Career
Hughes made some income from selling photographs of himself.<ref name= hwhig2007 /> During his adult life, Hughes made guest appearances at carnivals and fairs.<ref name= FH /> At age 27,<ref name= look>Template:Cite news</ref> he joined a traveling roadshow, often accompanied by some of his family.<ref name= hwhig2007 /> Plans to appear on The Ed Sullivan Show variety television program were announced but never materialized.<ref name="Reporter">Template:Cite news</ref>
In 1957, traveling with his brother Guy and Guy's wife Lillian, Hughes had bookings throughout the country. Walking, even with his massive cane, had started to be difficult for the 31-year-old. While at a carnival, word reached Hughes that his father had died at age 79 back in Illinois. Guy and Lillian returned to Illinois for the funeral, but Robert stayed on, believing it was his duty to honour his commitments. At season's end, he returned to Guy's farm, unable to walk more than Template:Convert without the assistance of family members, who would follow closely, lugging a Template:Convert wide, steel-reinforced chair in case of exhaustion.<ref name=":0" />
Death
While traveling with the roadshow in Nappanee, Indiana, Hughes developed a rash, and the flesh under his fingernails turned blue. Because he was unable to be moved to the nearest hospital in Bremen, Indiana, doctors treated him at his trailer, and determined he was suffering from measles.<ref name= "Reporter" /> He developed uremia.<ref name= hwhig2007 />
He died on July 10, 1958, at the age of 32. He was buried in a small church cemetery in Benville, Illinois,<ref name= look /> in Brown County near his hometown, Fishhook.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> About 2,000 people attended the funeral.<ref name= "Reporter" />