Sam McDonald
Sam McDonald (1762 – 6 May 1802), called "Big Sam", was a Scotsman of unusual height for his day who had a distinguished military career and was a noted "strongman". Most sources state his height as 6 feet 10 inches (2.08 m),[1] with a burly build, although one 1822 source claims 10 feet 4 inches (3.15 m).[2]
Life
Born in
There exist several engravings of him, both in military uniform and while serving as a gatekeeper for the Prince of Wales, including three by noted Scottish caricaturist John Kay.
His obituary in the
Colorful stories
A number of colorful stories were told of McDonald after his death. One said that the Countess of Sutherland, impressed by his size, had given him 2 shillings 6 pence a day extra pay to feed himself, since she figured he must eat prodigiously. Another concerned a challenge to a fight from an Irish "giant"; McDonald insisted on shaking hands before the fight, and when his grip squeezed blood from the Irishman's fingernails, the Irishman backed down.[6] A third had McDonald assigned to guard a cannon outside on a cold night; after a while he carried the cannon, unassisted, to the fire in the guardhouse, saying he could just as well watch it there.[7]
Another story concerned McDonald and an Irish butcher in Dublin who didn't believe the stories of McDonald's strength; he challenged McDonald that if he carried a bullock two miles back to the barracks, he could have it for free, and McDonald promptly did so.[8]
References
- ^ Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, Philadelphia: Henry Altemus, 1898, chapter "Giants of Real Life", p. 516
- ^ Sketches of the character, manners, and present state of the highlanders of Scotland, David Stewart, Edinburgh: A. Constable, 1822, p. 349
- ^ Historical Records of the 93rd Sutherland Highlanders, Roderick Hamilton Burgoyne, London: Richard Bentley and Son, 1883, xii
- ^ "Died". Sun (London). 19 May 1802. p. 4.
- ^ Big Sam memorial stone
- ^ Burgoyne, p. xii
- ^ Burgoyne, p. 5
- ^ Burgoyne, p. 427