Patrick (Cotter) O'Brien (1760 - 1806)

Born 19 Jan 1760 in Kinsale, County Cork, Ireland

Died 8 Sep 1806 at age 46 in Bristol, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

Cotter O'Brien (Cotter) O'Brien was born in Ireland.

Born January 19, 1760, in Kinsale, Ireland, Patrick Cotter O'Brien was one of the first of thirteen people to stand at a height of 8 feet or greater! Patrick appeared in the sideshow circuit and was also known as the Bristol Giant and the Irish Giant.^[1] His mother was Margaret Cotter.

He died September 8, 1806,^[2] and it is believed he died from the effects of gigantism, which is a disease.

Of course there was no hearse that was big enough and long enough to carry Patrick, so instead his remains were carried to the grave by relays of 14 men. In his will, Patrick left two thousand pounds to his mother and a request that his body be entombed in twelve feet of solid stone. He didn't want his body exhumed for scientific or medical research.

"Despite his wishes, Cotter O’Brien’s body was exhumed three times in 1906, 1972 and finally in 1986. Due to the redevelopment of his gravesite in 1986, the Giant of Kildare was finally cremated after a church service in his honour."^[3]

His remains were examined in 1972 and it was determined that while alive, he would have stood 8 ft 1 inch tall. He was the tallest person of his time and no one would surpass him until John Rogan, born in 1865.

Patrick's massive boots are on display at the Kinsale Museum and one of his arms is preserved at a medical museum in London.

Patrick's Will
The will of Patrick Cotter otherwise O’Brien of the City of Bristol, Gentleman was proved at London, 7th October 1806. ^[4]
Regarding his burial he writes
“I order and direct that my body may be interred in the said Roman Catholic Chapel in a Grave made as deep as can be done with propriety, and that a monument be erected in the Chapel to my memory and that my coffin may be a plain one with an inscription on the breast plate of my age, height and the name of the town in which I was born.”

The executors are his Good friends William Watts, Hosier, and James Donovan, Mariner, both of Bristol

He mentions his mother, Margaret Cotter, and leaves her the proceeds from investing £ 2,000 raised from the sale of his estate.

He mentions his brother, John Cotter.

He also mentions his three cousins: Daniel Keefe of Kinsale,Cork Ireland, ( a Mason ), and Daniel's sisters; Nancy Riley and Peggy Keen. They each get £ 100.

The proceeds from a sum of £ 500 invested, are to be given to a child of the name of Peggy White now living with his mother.

He signs the will as Patrick Cotter, otherwise O'Brien.

Research Notes

• An article in the Irish Post suggests the Last Name at Birth was Cotter, and that O'Brien was an alias ie a stage name:eight-facts-about-patrick-cotter-obrien-the-eight-foot-tall-irishman-who-died-in-1806

Sources

1. ↑ Wikipedia: Patrick Cotter O'Brien
2. ↑ Find a Grave Memorial ID: 201100352 Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/201100352/patrick-cotter: accessed 14 December 2022), memorial page for Patrick “Patrick O'Brien” Cotter (1760–8 Sep 1806), Find a Grave Memorial ID 201100352, citing St Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, Bristol, Bristol Unitary Authority, Bristol, England; Maintained by julia&keld (contributor 46812479).
3. ↑ Irish Post:Patrick Cotter O'Brien: 8 enormous facts about the Irishman[1]
4. ↑ The National Archives; Kew, England; Prerogative Court of Canterbury and Related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers; Class: PROB 11; Piece: 1450/53 available here for a small fee Also available ( for subscribers) from Ancestry.com. England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.

See Also

• https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/an-irishman-s-diary-1.936834
• http://www.thebookofdays.com/months/sept/8.htm#PATRICK%20COTTER:%20ANCIENT%20AND%20MODERN%20GIANTS
• DICTIONARY OF IRISH BIOGRAPHY:Cotter (alias O'Brien), Patrick:

Contributed by Murphy, David https://www.dib.ie/biography/cotter-alias-obrien-patrick-a2093