Franz Winkelmeier (known as giant of Friedburg-Lengau; * 27. April 1860 Lengau; * 24. August 1887) was with his size of 2,58 m the tallest human during his time and one of the tallest human in history.

His life

He was born as a son of a mercenary family in Lengau 23 (today Schneiderbauer). Two years later, his parents bought the Schöscharngut between Friedburg and Lengau. In Friedburg Franz Winkelmeier attended the elementary school. Until the age of fourteen years, his growth was normal.
Franz Winkelmeier appeared on 6th October 1881 in Braunau in public. He was pushed by an efficient tailor from Friedburg, and so the "giant", how he was called soon, appeared in Lower-Austria, Steiermark, Carinthia, Görz, Triest, Fiume, Hungaria and Siebenbürgen.
In the summertime of 1885 he was in the Tyrol and from 1st September until 30th November he was to see in the Concordia-Theater in Berlin. Even the tall solders of Emperor Wilhelm seemed to be dwarfs beside him.
After he was admired in more German cities he appeared in Paris in the theater Folies Bergere. On 9th November 1886 he was engaged by R. Rosingky to London. On 22nd June 1887 he was presented to Queen Victoria. The famous doctor Rudolf Virchow confirmed his size.
After the retourn from his journeys Franz Winkelmeier immidiately died. He had tuberculosis. His grave you can find at the cemetery of Lengau. In the restaurant "Zum Riesen" are shown a lot of memories of Franz Winkelmeier.