If you’ve taken a stroll around the cobbled streets of Stamford you’re bound to have seen references or images of a rotund fellow named Daniel Lambert. Born in Leicester on 13th March 1770, Lambert is famous for at one point in time being authenticated as the fattest man in recorded history.
Ironically in his younger years Daniel Lambert was actually a keen sportsman and certainly didn’t shy away from tough work, having followed in the footsteps of his father in being Keeper of Leicester’s House of Correction. He had a kind side too, and was known to have ushered in various prison improvements, endearing him to prisoners and prison reformers alike.
Sadly, over the years Lambert’s weight ballooned. He claimed not to eat or drink a great deal, blaming his office job for his weight gain, but within 11 years of being in the job, he tipped the scales at 32 stones. By the time he’d reached his late thrties that had risen to a staggering 53 stone. Some have suggested that his weight gain could’ve been down to a medical condition rather than excess calories.
Towards the end of his life, our very own Stamford Mercury reported that Daniel had a special carriage made to transport him to London. It was claimed that he essentially himself on display as a natural curiosity. People would pay a shilling to converse with him at his London aparetment and were impressed by his intelligence. In a rather surreal twist, visiting Lambert became a rather fashionable thing to do. Those visiting him had to remove their hats as a sign of respect. At its height hundreds visited daily.
Lambert’s life ended at an Inn in Stamford on 21st June 1809. At time of his death a wall had to be taken down to remove him. He’s buried at St Martin’s Church, Stamford. For a period after Daniel Lambert and his death found their way into popular culture with his name becoming synonymous with being overweight. For instance, Dickens’s Nicholas Nickleby compares George IV to Lambert.
Numerous public houses around the UK (including one in Stamford!) were named after Daniel Lambert in the following decades, almost all now closed included the Daniel Lambert pub near Ludgate Hill in London, and there are still mentions to the man locally. A Stamford cafe called Lamberts, a local football team (Stamford A.F.C) nicknamed ‘The Daniels’, memorabilia on display in The George pub (noteably Daniel Lambert’s walking stick). A colourful character. Long may he be remembered.
