The Fat Man of Maldon - Edward Bright
By all accounts, Edward Bright was a tubby fellow. Weighing in at a minimum of 42 stone, a size more akin to a cow than a human, Bright was possibly the largest person who had ever lived on the British Isles upon his death in 1750. In the following 250 and more years since his passing many will have exceeded his weight, although I don’t quite agree with those who claim that if Bright was alive today his weight would be within 5% of Maldon’s statistical mean.
Bright was 29 when he died. Although in early 18th century Britain life expectancy was a measly 35-40 years old at birth, once people survived childhood they could generally be expected to live into their 60s. Bright, then, died prematurely. What is surprising is that his killer was typhoid rather than pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis.
Bright was 29 when he died. Although in early 18th century Britain life expectancy was a measly 35-40 years old at birth, once people survived childhood they could generally be expected to live into their 60s. Bright, then, died prematurely. What is surprising is that his killer was typhoid rather than pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis.
One great mystery was solved upon his demise – how to get his considerable corpse from his bedroom to the cemetery. This was achieved by knocking out a wall and staircase and using a carriage to transport him the 100 yards or so from his home at Church House, adjacent to the Plume Library, to All Saints’ Church.
Another mystery, one which has not been satisfactorily explained, is how he got so big in the first place. |
This was before the days of the motor engine. Hell, even the bicycle hadn’t been invented. This means that Bright must have clocked up a fair amount of miles walking. He must surely have surpassed on a regular basis today’s recommendation of 30 minutes of walking a day.
Bright was also a working man, not a member of the nobility who had traditionally dominated the obesity scene by having servants do their working and horses their walking. Bright was both a candle merchant and a grocer.
Bright was also a working man, not a member of the nobility who had traditionally dominated the obesity scene by having servants do their working and horses their walking. Bright was both a candle merchant and a grocer.
Therein may hold a clue. He was surrounded by food all day and may just have been tempted to nibble on his own produce. On the other hand, this was before you could expand on saturated snacks and sugary drinks. This puzzle may well explain Bright’s enduring appeal.
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Those caught up in the Edward Bright hype can check out a bronze plaque in Kings Head Courtyard off the High Street or take a wander down to Maldon Museum in Promenade Park to look at a sculpture. Both commemorate an infamous wager that basically amounted to a game of ‘see how many men we can fit into a fat dead man’s waistcoat’. Pretty cruel if you ask me.