John Middleton (1578–1623) was an English giant commonly known as the Childe of Hale. Most of what is known about him is based on oral tradition and legends. Legend tells that he slept with his feet out of the window of his small house. Tales also credit him with great strength.
John Middleton was born in the village of Hale, near Liverpool. According to contemporary accounts and his epitaph, Middleton grew to the height of "9 feet, 3 inches" (2.80 m), which may or may not have been accurate. Although, if this was accurate, he would have been taller than Robert Wadlow. Because of his size, landlord and sheriff of Lancashire Gilbert Ireland hired him as a bodyguard. When King James I stopped by in 1617 to knight Ireland, he also heard about Middleton and invited both of them to the court, which they accepted in 1620. John Middleton was rumored to be so tall, that he had to sleep at night with his feet hanging out of the window of his small house.
In London, the King presented Middleton with a dress of purple, red and gold. Brasenose College, Oxford has a portrait of Middleton in this dress and the painted outline of his hand. Middleton beat the King's champion in wrestling and received £20, a large amount of money in those times. However, when Middleton was returning to Hale, his travelling companions stole the money.
John Middleton died impoverished in 1623. He was buried in the Hale churchyard with an epitaph, "Here lyeth the bodie of John Middleton the Childe of Hale. Nine feet three."
There is a pub in Hale, called "The Childe of Hale", which commemorates Middleton. Across the road to the Church is a big tree stump which has been carved into a statue of John Middleton.