Angus MacAskill
Angus MacAskill was born in 1825 in Berneray. He then moved with his family to Cuidhtinis in the Bays of Harris after being cleared to make way for sheep in Berneray. There is a rock off Cuidhtinis – Sgeir MhicAsgaill – named after his father because he was marooned there one night. This was fine while the kelping was busy but when those jobs were gone, the small croft could not support the family and they emigrated to Englishtown, Cape Breton in Canada.
He entered show business and appeared next to General Tom Thumb. Angus is considered to be the world’s tallest ever ‘true’ giant – he was 7ft 9in in height.
