The oldest recorded person in history is a French woman named Jeanne Calment, who lived to be 122 years and 164 days old. She was born on February 21, 1875 and died on August 4, 1997. Her age has been verified by various organizations, including the Guinness World Records. The oldest man ever recorded is Jiroemon Kimura, who lived to be 116 years and 54 days old and died in 2013.
Jeanne Calment was born in Arles, France and lived most of her life in the city. She was the daughter of a wealthy ship-owner and lived through both World Wars, as well as the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918. She married her second cousin, Fernand Calment, and had one child, a daughter named Yvonne. She outlived both her husband and daughter, as well as her grandson and great-granddaughter.
Throughout her life, Calment was known for her good health and active lifestyle. She took up fencing at the age of 85 and continued to ride her bicycle until she was 100 years old. She also enjoyed playing the piano and singing. She attributed her long life to a diet rich in olive oil, which is a staple of the Mediterranean diet.
Jeanne Calment’s age was verified through various forms of documentation, including her birth and baptismal certificates, school records, and census records. Her age was also confirmed by officials from the Gerontology Research Group, a organization that verifies claims of exceptional longevity.
Jiroemon Kimura, on the other hand, was born in a small village in the Kumamoto prefecture of Japan in 1897. He worked as a postal clerk and farmer for most of his life. He had nine children, with six of them surviving to adulthood. He outlived his wife and all of his children and grandchildren. He attributed his long life to a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet and regular exercise. His age was verified by the Gerontology Research Group.