Learn the incredible story of Frederick John Kempster - known locally, as the Blackburn Giant.

Born to Joseph and Jane Kempster, he was the second youngest in a family of seven children. Frederick's father Joseph worked as a milk carrier for the Aylesbury Dairy Company but unfortunately on Christmas day 1897 Joseph died of asthma and bronchitis at 50 years old.

Jane, Frederick’s mother was left to support the children on her own and tried to earn a living doing housework and laundry. She moved her family to a one room apartment in Islington, but got behind with the rent and so sadly, was evicted.

Jane applied for help at Barnardo's Commercial Street Shelter in the East End of London for the two youngest boys, Frederick and George. The boys were admitted to Barnardo's on 10 September 1898.

Barnardo's, known in the 19th century by its rather wordy title: National Incorporated Association for the Reclamation of Destitute Waif Children, was established in the East End of London in 1866 by Dr Thomas Barnardo.

When Frederick and his younger brother George came into Barnardo's care they were placed in, what was called, the Receiving House in Stepney, in East London.

1 month later On 14 October 1898, Frederick moved to Barnardo's Leopold House in Stepney where he remained for 1 year until the 23rd March 1899 when now 10 year old Frederick, sailed to Canada on board the SS Scotsman, spending 11 days at sea and arriving at St. John on 3 April 1899.

6 months after arriving in Canada Frederick was placed with a Mr. Allen in the mid-western Canadian province of Manitoba. Frederick would spend the next 5 years in Manitoba.

On 12 November 1904, aged 15, Frederick returned to England on board the SS Canada because he was unfit for farm labour. When he arrived in England on 21 November 1904, he was said to be suffering from a weak condition of the knees due to congenital weakness and lengthening of the internal ligaments of the knee joints and growth on the upper end of the tibia.

Frederick had to have an operation and it was performed at Her Majesty's Hospital in Stepney. This was a children's hospital operated by Barnardo's. Frederick would have a lame left leg for the rest of his life. In April of the following year he was able to return to work at Barnardo's Youth Labour House at Commercial Road, East London.

21 year old frederick, now standing over 7 feet tall, whilst at Boys garden city, he was entered into the “Parade of Giants” which was part of The Festival of Empire, a celebration held at Crystal Palace in the run up to the coronation of King George V.

In June 1911, he got a job with Astley & Co.'s American Circus at Chigwell in Essex. Just 2 months later In August 1911, he visited Barnardo's and reported he was in partnership with a travelling circus, and was doing well. This seems to be the end of his association with Barnardo’s. However, at some time before 1920, Barnardo's published a set of at least 4 postcards featuring images of Frederick, and noting that the former Barnardo lad was now probably the tallest man in the world.

In 1914 Frederick and his travelling circus embarked on a world tour.
While in Germany Frederick performed under the pseudonym Teddy Bobs.
Unfortunately his return trip to the German Empire took a turn in August when war broke out in Europe.

Frederick returned home to England safely and continued to tour the UK where he visited Lancashire for the first time, a visit that would change his life and legacy forever.

Frederick was part of a sideshow attraction attached to a travelling fair in Blackburn in 1917 when he contracted influenza. Frederick's influenza progressed and he developed pneumonia.

He was cared for in the Queens Park Hospital in Blackburn, it’s reported that the nurses had to bring 2 or 3 beds together just to fit him on.

Sadly his condition didn’t get any better and his health deteriorated and Frederick would die the following year in 1918. aged just 29 years old.

Frederick was buried at the Blackburn Old Cemetery on Whalley Road in Blackburn, Lancashire.

This is his story.

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