It’s difficult to navigate a society intended for average-sized humans when you’re one of the world’s shortest people. However, the best things come in small packages, as the adage goes. Calvin Phillips (USA, b. 1791) stood 67 cm (26.5 in) tall and weighed 5.4 kg (12 lb) while dressed in 1810. As a result, he became the world’s shortest man. Calvin weighed only 907 grams when he was born in Bridgewater, Massachusetts (2 lb). At the age of five, he stopped growing. He was measured at 69.9 cm shortly after his death in April 1812, at the age of 21. (27.5 in). Calvin’s record was not broken until over 180 years later, in 1990.
Princess Pauline is the shortest female ever. Pauline Musters (Netherlands, b. 1876) is the shortest female ever. In 1895, she was measured and determined to be 59 cm tall (23.2 in). She was 30 cm (12 in) tall at birth and only 55 cm (21.5 in) tall at nine years old, weighing 1.5 kg (3 lb 5 oz). Pauline had a natural talent for acting. At first, audiences were mesmerized by Princess Pauline’s stature, but she quickly gained a reputation for her gymnastics and dancing.
She toured various European nations before heading to New York City to play in front of large crowds.
Pauline died of pneumonia when she was 19 years old, in 1895. Due to considerable elongation after death, she measured 61 cm (24 in).
