Francesco Lentini, the man with three legs… And two genitals

The case of Francesco Lentini is special. He was known as «The King» and not precisely because he had more members than normal, but because he had a unique character, for being such an upright, ingenious and affectionate person that he did not leave anyone indifferent. Sometimes it was not enough to be a man with three legs or any other extraordinary physical attribute to gain fame in this era, where the world of the circus and shows were looking for something more than women with beards or Siamese twins joined at the abdomen. In addition to surprising, they had to captivate, they had to know how to entertain and go beyond that particularity that was visible to the naked eye.

The case of Francesco Lentini is one of the best known. He was a gentleman of extensive knowledge and dialectical grace. And indeed, physically he was “amazing.”

Francesco Lentini, the man with three legs… And two genitals

Francesco was born in 1889 in Syracuse, Sicily. He had 12 siblings, and when he was about to be born, the doctors sensed that twins were going to be born during delivery. Now, the one who came into the world was only Francesco and part of a twin that in reality, never finished forming. That baby was a milestone in the world of science, a child who clung tightly to life and would continue forward despite his characteristics.

Francesco was apparently a man with three legs, but in reality he had a slightly smaller fourth foot protruding from his third leg. In addition to this, he had sixteen toes on his feet, and two fully functional penises with their testicles. At first, doctors thought about performing an operation to free him from that third leg, but later they ruled out the operation because it was too close to the spine. It was a risk.

Little Francesco’s first years were not easy at all, especially because his parents rejected him. This caused him to end up being admitted to a center for disabled people, which, throughout his early years, made this child go from despair, rejection and hatred, to full acceptance of his physical appearance.

At first he hated his body, he would have liked to rip off that leg himself, or hide from the world so that no one else would laugh at him. But later, he looked away from himself to look at those children who lived with him in the center. Most were severely disabled. people who could never moveand even less, fend for themselves.

For his part, Francesco, despite the fact that each of his legs was a length and that he suffered pain, he could move, he was valid and he could move through the world with full autonomy. He was even a great soccer player! Why should he feel sorry for himself then? Absolutely. And when he came of age, Francesco Lentini made the decision of his life: travel to America and perform shows. He wanted to earn a living, and to do so, he was fully aware that his physical peculiarities could afford it. If they were his condemnation, they must now be his way of life. And he achieved almost immediate success.

They said of him that he had a charming character, that he captivated the masses with his speeches and his wit. The shows were very simple: he stood with his extra limb on a stool. Then he began to talk about life in general, and specifically, about his own. A kind of «talk show», where what he was most interested in was the moment in which, with complete tranquility, He answered people’s questions about his sex life. Curiosity about this aspect, how can you imagine, It was very «morbid.»

They also asked him about his shoes, and what he did when he went shopping for shoes. Francesco responded immediately: he used to buy two pairs, and the leftover shoe he would offer to a friend who had only one leg.

Francesco had no shortage of suitors, but his affection went to a lady with whom he fell in love instantly: a young woman named Theresa Murray. They got married and had 4 healthy children.. He worked his entire life for top circus shows, such as Barnum and Bailey and Coney Island. He was known, as you know, as «The King», for his elegance, his know-how in front of the public and his captivating character. He had a full, happy life, surely more so than others who did not have his particularities.

As you have seen, the least extraordinary thing about Lentini is that he was a man with three legs. He is, without a doubt, an example that we wanted to talk to you about at . Don’t hesitate to also remember the camel girl: Ella Harper.