Fiodar Machnoŭ (Feodor Machnow, Фёдар Махноў, Фёдор Махнов) was born in 1878 at the village of Kasciuki near Viciebsk (now Belarus). Though exact details concerning his birth and real height are uncertain, Machnow eventually grew to a stature of 7-ft-10 inches (2.39m) and a weight of 365 lbs.

As a young man in his twenties he toured Europe to exhibit his great height. After having spent time in Berlin he visited London in 1905 where he joined the Hippodrome accompanied by his wife and young child. He then toured the United States in 1906 where he met President Roosevelt. Throughout his tour his promoters exaggerated his height, and he is usually accredited with a stature of 9-feet-3 inches (2.82m) and billed as "The Russian Giant." On the obelisk it is still possible to read: «Фёдор Андреевич Махнов. Родился 6 июня 1878 года. Умер 28 августа 1912 года. Самый высокий человек в мире. Ростом был 3 аршина 9 вершков» ("Feodor Machnow. Born June 6, 1878. Died August 28, 1912. Tallest man in the world. He was 254 centimetres tall"). This index was taken from a 16-year old Feodor contract. But after 16 years of Feodor Machnow continued to grow, and added 31 cm, reaching 282 cm. Giant's wife, Efrosinja wanted to correct the incorrect figure on the monument, but was prevented from doing so because of the beginning of the First World War and then the Revolution. Unfortunately Machnow's wife could not verify this version. This exaggeration may have been because he wore a huge Cossack fur hat, and tall boots which added a foot to his height. Although, if this was accurate, he would have been taller than Robert Wadlow.

Machnow died in 1912 due to pneumonia and likely complications of Acromegaly although there are other versions of the story. Some believed he had been poisoned by rivals or envious competitors (Machnow was a rather well known wrestler), but no evidence for this is available. He was the father of four children none of whom reached a height greater than two meters.