Delving into the annals of human history reveals a fascinating chronicle of longevity and resilience. In our blog, The 10 Oldest Men to Ever Live, we embark on a captivating journey through time to explore the extraordinary lives of those who defied the bounds of age. From remarkable stories of resilience to insights into their diverse cultural backgrounds, this compilation brings to light the awe-inspiring tales of individuals who have etched their names into the record books as the oldest men ever recorded. Join us as we unravel the secrets of their longevity, celebrate their unique accomplishments, and gain valuable insights into the human spirit’s capacity to endure and thrive across generations.
The List of the 10 Oldest Men to Ever Live
10. Johnson Parks
113 years old
Lifespan: October 15, 1884-July 7, 1998
Age: 113 years, 275 days
Residence: United States
Johnson Parks, born in Georgia on October 15, 1884, relocated to Central Florida from his native Georgia in 1961, where he worked as a farm laborer. In 1995, he surpassed the age of Vincenzo Izzillo, establishing himself as the oldest man ever from Florida. Following the death of the 115-year-old Christian Mortensen, who held the title for the oldest recorded male at the time, Parks assumed the position of the oldest validated living male for 84 days, until he was succeeded by Walter Richardson.
Johnson Parks passed away at the age of 113 years and 275 days, securing the tenth position among the oldest men ever recorded. At the time of his death, he held the distinction of being the second-oldest verified man, following Mortensen. He is survived by his daughter, Julia Forrest, son Willie Worwell, and brother Erris Jackson.
Notably, Parks holds the record as the oldest validated man ever born in the U.S. state of Georgia and also as the oldest validated man to have passed away in the U.S. state of Florida.
9. Israel Kristal
113 years old
Lifespan: September 15, 1903-August 11, 2017
Age: 113 years, 330 days
Residence: Israel
Israel Kristal, originally named “Izrael” and occasionally transliterated as “Yisrael Kristal,” was a validated supercentenarian born in Poland and later becoming an Israeli citizen. He gained recognition as the World’s Oldest Man following the death of Yasutaro Koide on January 18, 2016, and held this title until his own passing on August 11, 2017. Notably, Kristal was also acknowledged as the oldest (known) living Holocaust survivor at the time of his death. Ranking as the third-oldest European-born man in recorded history, he followed Christian Mortensen and Joan Riudavets-Moll in this regard.
Born on September 15, 1903, in the village of Malenie near Zarnow, which was part of the Russian Empire at that time (now in Lodz Voivodeship, Poland), Kristal faced challenges early in life, with the loss of his mother and his father’s military draft during World War I, requiring him to work diligently to support himself.
In 1920, he relocated to Lodz and, at the age of 25 in 1928, married. The couple successfully managed a confectionary factory together. In a unique and poignant celebration, around September 2016, Kristal marked his 113th birthday by also observing a Bar Mitzvah, a traditional Jewish ceremony typically conducted at the age of 13. The circumstances of World War I had prevented him from having this ceremony during his adolescence.
8. Fred Harold Hale Sr.
113 years old
Lifespan: December 1, 1890-November 19, 2004
Age: 113 years, 354 days
Residence: United States
Frederick Harold Hale, Sr., a validated American supercentenarian, claimed the title of the world’s oldest man at the time of his death at the age of 113 years and 354 days. This distinction followed the passing of the 114-year-old Spaniard Joan Riudavets and made Hale the oldest living American man after the demise of the 113-year-old John McMorran. Notably, he remains the oldest person ever hailing from Maine, achieving the rare feat of reaching the ages of 112 and 113 and securing the eighth position among the oldest validated men in history.
Born in New Sharon, Maine, USA, on December 1, 1890, Fred Hale’s longevity had a familial precedent, with both of his parents, Fred and Nettie, reaching the age of 91. In 1910, he married Flora Mooers, and that same year, they welcomed their first child. Hale’s professional journey included roles as a railroad postal worker and a beekeeper. After 69 years of marriage, Flora passed away in 1979, leaving Hale to lead an independent life for an additional 25 years. At the age of 109, he relocated from Maine to Liverpool, New York, to reside with his youngest son, Fred Hale Jr. In the final chapter of his life, Hale and his son moved to Jamesville, New York, where he garnered media attention as the world’s oldest Boston Red Sox fan shortly before his passing.
7. Joan Riudavets Moll
114 years old
Lifespan: December 15, 1889-March 5, 2004
Age: 114 years, 81 days
Residence: Spain
Joan Riudavets-Moll, a validated Spanish supercentenarian, was initially believed to be the oldest validated person in Spain’s history at the time of his death. However, later discoveries revealed that Maria Antonia Castro and Maria del Carmen Lopez had surpassed his age. Despite this, he secured the title of the oldest recognized person in Europe following the passing of Teresa Fumarola in May 2003, and subsequently became the oldest recognized man in the world after the death of Yukichi Chuganji in September 2003.
Born in Es Migjorn Gran, Menorca, Balearic Islands, Spain, on December 15, 1889, Joan Riudavets-Moll experienced an unusual level of fitness for a supercentenarian, maintaining the ability to walk and ride a bicycle even in his advanced years. His mother, Catalina Moll Mercades, tragically passed away at the age of 25 before the end of December 1889. He pursued a career as a cobbler until his retirement in 1954 and served as a former village councillor of Es Migjorn Gran. Joan was survived by two younger half-brothers: Josep, who passed away in 2009 at the age of 102, and Pere, who died in 2006 at the age of 105.
6. Yukichi Chuganji
114 years old
Lifespan: March 23, 1889-September 28, 2003
Age: 114 years, 189 days
Residence: Japan
Yukichi Chuganji, a Japanese supercentenarian, held the title of the world’s oldest living person from December 29, 2002, until his passing, at which point the distinction transferred to Mitoyo Kawate. Currently, he stands as the sixth-oldest validated man in recorded history.
Born in the village of Chikushino, Fukuoka, Japan, on March 23, 1889, Yukichi Chuganji graduated from a technical school in the early 1900s. His diverse career included roles as a silkworm breeder, agricultural instructor, bank employee, and community welfare officer. In 1914, he married Shika Chuganji, and together they had four sons and one daughter. Their marriage endured for nearly 60 years until Shika’s passing in 1973. Chuganji found joy in fishing and gardening, and remarkably, he continued riding a bike until his late 90s. Remaining active and independent well into his centenarian years, he would venture into town alone and actively participate in elections, exercising his right to vote.
5. Juan Vicente Pérez
114 years old
Lifespan: May 27, 1909-Living
Age: 114 years, 190 days
Residence: Venezuela
Juan Vicente Perez Mora, a Venezuelan supercentenarian, has been officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest living man since the passing of Saturnino de la Fuente Garcia of Spain on January 18, 2022. Not only is he presently the oldest validated individual from Venezuela, but he also holds the distinction of being the fifth-oldest validated man ever recorded. Remarkably, he stands as the sole validated supercentenarian from Venezuela.
Born on May 27, 1909, in El Cobre, Tachira, Venezuela, Perez Mora’s family relocated to Caserio Caricuena, San Jose de Bolivar, in 1913, where they acquired a farm. At the tender age of four, he was already one of eight siblings. Growing up, Perez Mora actively contributed to farm life alongside his father and brothers. His journey took him to work for his brother, Miguel, in the nearby village of Los Paujiles, where he crossed paths with Ediofina Garcia. They married in San Jose de Bolivar in 1938 and settled in the village of Los Paujiles in the municipality of Francisco de Miranda, Tachira, where their first child was born. Subsequently, they purchased a farm in Caserio Caricuena, witnessing the birth of the rest of their children. The couple had six sons and five daughters. Unfortunately, Perez Mora’s wife passed away in the late 1990s. In May 2019, he marked his 110th birthday, solidifying his status as the first known male supercentenarian from Venezuela.
4. Walter Breuning
114 years old
Lifespan: September 21, 1896-April 14, 2011
Age: 114 years, 205 days
Residence: United States
Walter Breuning, a validated supercentenarian from the United States, held the title of the world’s oldest living man following the passing of Henry Allingham on July 18, 2009, and retained this distinction until his own demise nearly two years later. He ranked as the third-oldest validated living person globally, trailing behind Maria Gomes Valentim and Besse Cooper. At present, he stands as the fourth-oldest validated man in recorded history.
Born in Melrose, Minnesota, on September 21, 1896, to John Breuning and Cora Morehouse Breuning, Walter had two sisters and two brothers among his four siblings. In 1901, when he was only 4 or 5 years old, the family relocated to De Smet, South Dakota. Walter attended school for nine years until his family experienced a breakup in 1910, when he was 14. During his upbringing, the family lived without electricity, water, or plumbing. Despite his parents passing away at ages 50 and 46, longevity was a prevalent trait in the Breuning family. Both paternal and maternal grandparents lived into their 90s, and his siblings reached ages of 78, 85, 91, and 100.
3. Emiliano Mercado del Toro
115 years old
Lifespan: August 21, 1891-January 24, 2007
Age: 115 years, 156 days
Residence: Puerto Rico
Emiliano Mercado del Toro, a validated supercentenarian from Puerto Rico, held several notable distinctions in his lifetime. He claimed the title of the world’s oldest person for a span of 44 days and went on to become the world’s oldest man from November 19, 2004, until his demise. Additionally, he earned recognition as the oldest verified military veteran, despite having a non-combat veteran status. His final resting place is the Municipal Cemetery in his hometown of Cabo Rojo, where his funeral was attended by mayors, legislators, and Puerto Rican icon Iris Chacón.
Born to Delfin Mercado and Gumercinda del Toro, Emiliano spent the majority of his early years working in the cane fields until the age of 81. Although he never married or had children, he mentioned having three love interests throughout his life. Emiliano gained attention from longevity researchers in 2001 during a parade in Puerto Rico that featured a 110-year-old veteran, sparking interest in his own remarkable story. After the passing of Fred H. Hale, Sr. in November 2004, researchers began submitting documents, officially recognizing Emiliano as the world’s oldest man.
2. Christian Mortensen
115 years old
Lifespan: August 16, 1882-April 25, 1998
Age: 115 years, 252 days
Residence: United States
Christian Mortensen, a Danish-American supercentenarian, held the distinction of being the oldest validated man in recorded history at the time of his passing. Born as Thomas Peter Thorvald Kristian Ferdinand Mortensen in Skaarup, Skanderborg, Denmark, on August 16, 1882, he stood out even among Scandinavian supercentenarians due to his exceptional longevity. Notably, he is the sole Nordic-born individual known to have surpassed the age of 113.
As the youngest of six siblings, Mortensen was baptized in Fruering Church on December 26, 1882. In 1903, he embarked on a journey to the United States, residing in various locations and engaging in diverse trades. While in Denmark, he had previously worked as a farmhand and apprenticed as a tailor. In a bold move in 1978, Mortensen rode his tricycle to the Aldersly Retirement Community in San Rafael, declaring his Danish identity and asserting his intent to stay. For the final two decades of his life, he resided at Aldersly Retirement Community.
1. Jiroemon Kimura
116 years old
Lifespan: April 19, 1897-June 12, 2013
Age: 116 years, 54 days
Residence: Japan
Jiroemon Kimura, a validated supercentenarian from Japan, holds the record as the oldest validated man in history, reaching the age of 116 years and 54 days. Surpassing Christian Mortensen’s previous record of 115 years and 252 days, Kimura claimed this title. After the passing of Dina Manfredini on December 17, 2012, he became the oldest living person for the final six months of his life and, 11 days later, secured the title of the oldest man in recorded history.
Born as Kinjiro Miyake in Kyotango, Kyoto, Japan, Kimura completed his schooling as the second-best student in his class at the age of 14. He dedicated 45 years of his life to working at local post offices, starting at 17 and retiring at 65 in 1962. In the 1920s, he also served at a government communication unit in Korea. Upon his return, he married his neighbor, Yae Kimura, and, due to the absence of a male heir in his wife’s family, adopted the name Jiroemon Kimura, becoming the ninth member of the family with that name. After retiring, he worked as a farmer, assisting his son in farming until the age of 90. His wife, Yae, passed away at the age of 74 in 1978.
Conclusion
In concluding our exploration of “The 10 Oldest Men to Ever Live,” we’re left with a profound appreciation for the resilience and tenacity displayed by these extraordinary individuals. Their stories not only bridge the gap between generations but also serve as a testament to the boundless possibilities of the human experience. As we reflect on the diverse backgrounds, cultures, and unique journeys of each man on this list, it becomes clear that the pursuit of longevity is often intertwined with a rich tapestry of life experiences. Beyond the numbers and records, these individuals impart valuable lessons about the importance of leading purposeful, fulfilling lives. May their legacies continue to inspire us to cherish each moment, prioritize our well-being, and embrace the potential for a life well-lived.
