Jean Bihin

Jean Bihin (Jean Antoine Joseph Bihin) was born in Belgium in 1805 and died 25 October 1873. He was reported to be a sworn-in Civil War soldier, who traveled the country during the Civil War promoting the Union by the request of the war department. However, I have been unable to confirm this. However, he did some performances to raise funds for wounded soldiers and their families. According to the many stories about him, he was a concert vocalist, a comedian and a strongman.

Jean Bihin found fame touring Europe, then visited the U.S. in 1840 to join Barnum & Bailey Circus.

His height has been listed from 6'8" to well over 8 feet.

There is some confusion about Jean Bihin. Some other pictures of a giant who does not look like the Jean Bihin, have been identified by some sources as Jean Bihin. Also, the pictures of Jean Bihin below look very similar to a famous picture of Angus MacAskill, or is it the other way around?

Jean Antoine Joseph Bihin was born on the 15th of December 1805 in La Reid Belgium. His reported length at the age of 38 was 2.06 m. In 1834 his reported length was 2.45 m. and his weight was 158 kg. Reported lengths vary between 7 ft. and 7 ft. 4 in., and between 2.35 m. And 2.54 m.).

He travelled many countries (Germany, Italy, USA, Great Britain, France, Netherlands, Russia), worked at fairs and in circusses, worked as an actor on stage and even worked in the Dutch army (Tambour maître), was called the "Northern Colossus" and on stage acted as "Goliath".

He married Sarah Anne Vyse (born 1818) on the 10th of January 1849 in New York. The couple had 2 children: Séraphin Joseph Bihin, born on 28 November 1849 and Joséphine Bihin, born on 18 July 1851. They lived in Dolhain/Verviers, Belgium but returned to the USA in 1852. After a short stay in Philadelphia they settled in New York (North Hempstead - Roslyn area). In 1863 the couple divorced because of "cruel and inhumane treatment" of Sarah Anne by Jean Antoine Joseph Bihin. He died aged 69 because of a liver disease on 25 October 1873 while he lived in the region of Chicago. He is burried in Greenwood cementary in New York.