Edward Rulloff had the Second Largest Brain in History… and Was Also a Killer

Edward Rulloff was a unique case in medicine. His main claim to fame, if you can call it that, is that he had one of the biggest brains in human history. He was born in 1829. In fact, it was the second-largest brain ever measured. The average adult male brain weighs about 1,300 grams, but at the time of his death, it was estimated to weigh 1,673 grams.

His life's work appeared to support the notion that having a large brain made you smarter. Being a man of various interests, Rulloff occasionally worked as a judge, doctor, and teacher. He was reportedly a self-taught linguist who was fluent in multiple languages. To be fair, he appeared to have learned how to do all of his occupations on his own, the physician position probably the most so.

The fact that Rulloff committed murder on the side while writing about the origins and evolution of language was equally concerning. He was put on trial for the storekeeper's murder, which occurred while Rulloff was committing a heist. Additionally, he is alleged to have murdered his own wife and child. Even though the remains were never found, the fact that he left to Chicago right away angered the jury, who gave him a ten-year term.

His criminal career began many years prior. He had a history of robberies and break-ins that dated back around 25 years. The shopkeeper's passing was the tipping point, leading to his conviction and subsequent death sentence. "Hurry it up," were his last words before being hanged.

Born: John Edward Howard Rulloff 1819 Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada
Died: May 18, 1871 (aged 51–52)