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Jeanne Louise Calment (February 21 1875 - August 4 1997) had the longest confirmed lifespan (122 years 164 days) for any human being in history. Her lifespan has been thoroughly documented by scientific study. In fact, more records have been produced to verify her age than for any other case (more information is available in the book "122 Extraordinary Years: From Van Gogh's Time to Ours).
She married her second cousin Fernand Calment in 1896, and survived her only child (Yvonne died 1934) and only grandchild (died in 1963, motorcycle accident). In 1965, with no living heirs, Jeanne Calment signed a reverse mortgage deal on her apartment (condo in U.S.) with lawyer Francois Raffray, then 47. He agreed to pay her a monthly "reverse mortgage" until she passed away. She was then 90: if she lived only a year, it would have been a great deal. Unfortunately for him, he died first--Dec 1995 at the age of 77. His wife had to continue the payments.
In 1985, Jeanne Calment moved into a nursing home, after living on her own until age 110. However, she did not gain international fame until 1988, when the centenary of Van Gogh's visit to Arles provided an occasion to meet reporters. She said that in her younger years, she met Vincent van Gogh, later describing him as "dirty, badly dressed and disagreeable." At the age of 114, she appeared briefly in the film Vincent and Me as herself. A French language documentary film about her life, entitled Beyond 120 Years with Jeanne Calment, was released in 1995. In 1996, she released a CD Time's Mistress. It featured her reminiscing, set to rap and other tunes.
Following her death, Marie-Louise Meilleur of Canada became the oldest recognized person in the world.
Quotes
- I've been forgotten by God
- I took pleasure when I could. I acted clearly and morally and without regret. I'm very lucky
- I've only got one wrinkle, and I'm sitting on it.
| Preceded by: Florence Knapp |
Oldest Recognized Person in the World | Succeeded by: |