The 'most curious' man: Turned himself into a money-making machine, became a legend after his death

He always claimed not to eat too much, but his weight reached 317kg at the age of 30, with a massive waist of nearly 3 meters.

In 1806, a strange advertisement appeared in a London newspaper. It described a man who was 'the most curious man in the world' and aroused the curiosity of many people, although no one knew the truth.

People are talking about Daniel Lambert , who weighs 317kg. And if you want to go there to see Daniel, you have to pay to meet him.

Daniel Lambert's massive body is depicted in paintings.

Yes, that's right! Daniel Lambert, dubbed "the fattest man in Britain" at the time, turned his enormous weight into a money-making machine. At first, people came to see his physique, but then they were drawn to his intelligence and gift for conversation.

In a time when obesity was considered a curiosity, Daniel Lambert became a legend.

How did Daniel Lambert gain weight?

Born on March 13, 1770, in Leicester County (England), Daniel Lambert was a strong, healthy boy who enjoyed catching otters, racing horses, hunting, fishing and raising dogs.

Daniel Lambert became a legend because of his big body.

Before he became known for his enormous size, Daniel Lambert was a brave child with remarkable strength. As a teenager, Daniel was watching a bear show when one of his dogs suddenly charged at the animal, causing it to become angry and attack, Daniel fought it off with a pole.

Originally an active, healthy, strong person, Daniel Lambert ended up choosing a job that required little physical activity.

When his father, a local jailer, retired in the early 1790s, Daniel Lambert took over. And all that time spent idling in front of the jail caused him to gain weight.

By 1793, Daniel Lambert weighed 450 pounds. According to an article in The National , he was still in good health at the time. Daniel could lift a block of wood weighing 550 pounds and even swim while carrying two men on his back. But his free time as a prison guard began to take its toll, and he began to gain weight.

By the early 1800s, Daniel Lambert had ballooned to over 500 pounds. He had a problem. The prison where he worked was closing down. With money running out and job opportunities dwindling, Daniel Lambert decided to turn his overweight appearance into. a way to make a living.

Make money from your own body

Instead of being dissatisfied with his fate, Daniel Lambert turned his huge weight into a source of income.

In the spring of 1806, Daniel Lambert decided to move to London. This was easier said than done. He weighed 700 pounds, making him the heaviest man in history at the time. According to English Eccentrics and Eccentricities, a special carriage large enough to accommodate Daniel's massive frame was built.

Daniel Lambert then put his plan into action. He ran an advertisement in The Times that read : "EXHIBITION - DANIEL LAMBERT, of Leicester. The most curious man in the world, aged 36, weighing over 300kg. Mr Lambert will meet you at 53 Piccadilly, opposite St. James's Church, from 12 to 17 o'clock."

Hundreds of people flocked to see Daniel. Londoners were "fascinated" by Daniel Lambert, who claimed to never drink alcohol and only eat modest amounts.

Daniel has a gift for speaking and a sense of humor.

They also found the man to be a gifted conversationalist, able to talk at length about topics such as dog breeds and hunting.

A reporter for The Times recorded this after visiting Daniel Lambert: "A large number of discerning visitors have come to Lambert's house during the last two days, to find a man of unusual size, possessed of wonderful information, and of the most affable and agreeable manners. His easy conversation far exceeded our expectations."

The reporter also noted that female guests outnumbered men, and that women praised Daniel Lambert's "masculine and intelligent appearance."

Soon, Daniel's enormous size became the talk of the town. The whole of London was drawn to him when he was visited by the famous Polish dwarf, "Count " Józef Boruwłaski. And Daniel was even granted an audience with King George III.

By the time Daniel returned to Leicester a few months later, he was a wealthy man and seen as a local hero.

On 19 September 1806, the Leicester Journal noted Daniel Lambert's presence in a grand manner with the description: "Among the prominent figures on the pitch, we were pleased to see our old friend, Mr. Daniel Lambert. He was evidently in good health and spirits."

Later that year, Daniel went on a solo tour. His name attracted audiences both in London and in the surrounding towns and cities. Henry Wilson, author of a book on remarkable people in history, wrote that "thousands of people marveled at his astonishing figure."

Reputation left behind

In June 1809, Daniel Lambert went to Stamford on tour. But this was to be his last trip.

After checking into the Waggon and Horses Inn on June 20, 1809, while shaving, he began to have difficulty breathing. Within minutes, Daniel was dead, at the age of 39.

At this point, arranging his funeral became a big problem. The locals had to work very hard to get him out of the inn and bury him.

According to the city government, they had to break the windows and part of the wall of the rented room, put him in a coffin the size of a parking space. It took 20 men to carry Daniel's coffin to the cemetery.

Tombstone and statue of Daniel Lambert.

Daniel became a legend after that. Pubs were named after him. A giant wax statue was made in his image. "Daniel Lambert" became a phrase used to describe his enormous size.

Daniel is not the fattest man in the world, as the title is held by Jon Brower Minnoch, from the US, who weighs 635kg. However, he has left an impressive legacy.

Clothes Daniel used to wear.