Giant MacAskill’s Grave in Englishtown, Nova Scotia

Tucked away in a small cemetery in the Cape Breton community of Englishtown lies the grave of Angus MacAskill, better known as the Giant MacAskill or the Cape Breton Giant, a man whose extraordinary height and strength brought him international fame during the 19th century.

Born in 1825 on the Isle of Berneray in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides, MacAskill immigrated to Nova Scotia with his family as a child and eventually settled in the fishing community of Englishtown. Standing an astonishing 7 feet 9 inches (2.36 metres) tall, he was recognized by the 1981 Guinness Book of World Records as the tallest non-pathological giant in recorded history, meaning his extraordinary height was not attributed to a medical condition.

MacAskill’s remarkable stature attracted the attention of legendary showman P. T. Barnum, who recruited him for his travelling exhibitions. There, MacAskill performed alongside General Tom Thumb, with the pair billed as “The Tallest and the Smallest.” During their performances, the diminutive Tom Thumb would reportedly dance on MacAskill’s enormous outstretched palm before being slipped into the giant’s overcoat pocket.

Over the following years, MacAskill travelled throughout North America, Europe, and the Caribbean, captivating audiences with his extraordinary size and strength. He even reportedly performed a demonstration of his strength before Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle.

After years of travelling, MacAskill returned to Englishtown, where he purchased property and opened a general store. In 1863, while on a business trip to Halifax, he suddenly became seriously ill. He returned home to Cape Breton, where he died shortly afterward at just 38 years old.

MacAskill was buried in Englishtown’s Auld Cemetery, where his grave eventually fell into neglect and obscurity. Following renewed interest in his remarkable life, the Government of Nova Scotia erected a new grave marker to honour the legendary giant.

Today, the modest gravesite serves as a reminder of a man who once amazed audiences around the world, yet ultimately returned to the quiet Cape Breton community he called home.