John Baptist Gagnon | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | October 5, 1883 |
| Died | May 4, 1939 |
| Occupation | Strongman |
John Baptist Gagnon (October 5, 1883 - May 4, 1939) was an American strongman performer. He was 5-foot-10-inches tall, weighed 230 pounds,[1] and had 17-inch biceps. At one time, he claimed the unofficial title of "World's Strongest Man."
He was born on October 5, 1883, in Caribou, Maine. Deferring to the wishes of his family, Gagnon gave up performing in the late 1920s. He took a job with the Vicory and Hill Company in Augusta, Maine, where his job was to handle large rolls of paper, each weighing between 500 and 1,000 pounds. Normally, two men were required for the job, but Gagnon did it alone and collected double pay.
Gagnon did not drink alcohol and abstained from coffee, tea and tobacco.[2] He ate two meals a day and preferred to drink milk. In 1922, Gagnon lifted a heavy table upon which 20 men were standing ranging from 105 to 215 pounds. The weight totalled 4,040 pounds.[2] Gagnon was considered the strongest man in the world in the 1930s.[1]
He died on May 4, 1939, in Augusta, Maine.
In a contest against Warren Lincoln Travis in 1923, Gagnon bested the champion. A platform weighing 710 pounds was set up that could be lifted from above and also back lifted from below. Here are Gagnon's accomplishments with the platform:
Among the Gagnon's alleged physical abilities are the following:
