Jeanne Calment | Gerontology Research Group

Full name: Jeanne Louise Calment
Lifespan: (21.02.1875 – 04.08.1997)
Age: 122 years, 164 days
Birthplace: Arles, Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur, France
Last residence: Arles, Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur, France
Application date: 21.02.1987
Validation date: 11.01.1988
Validation source: Guinness World Records/Dr. Jean-Marie Robine

Biography

Jeanne Louise Calment was born at 7:00 AM on 21 February 1875 in Arles, Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur, France. Her close family members also lived to an advanced age: her brother, Francois, lived to the age of 97, her father, Nicolas, 92, and her mother, Marguerite, 86.

In 1896, she married her second cousin (grandson of her great-uncle) Fernand Calment, a wealthy store owner. His wealth made it possible for Calment to never have to work; instead, she led a relaxed lifestyle, pursuing hobbies like tennis, cycling, swimming, roller skating, piano, and opera. Her husband died in 1942 after eating a dessert that happened to contain spoiled cherries.

Jeanne Calment and her husband had a daughter, Yvonne (19 January 1898 – 19 January 1934), who died from pneumonia on her 36th birthday. She also outlived her grandson, Frederic Billot (23 December 1926 – 13 August 1963), who died in an automobile accident.

On 21 February 1985, Calment celebrated her 110th birthday, becoming a supercentenarian.

Jeanne Calment was first publicly recognized for her longevity when she was 113 years old. She reported that she had seen Vincent van Gogh (who died in 1890) when she was 13 years old. This claim made her appear in the 1990 movie Vincent and Me, where she played herself and became the oldest person ever to appear in a film.

At the age of 100, Calment suffered a fall that broke her ankle, but Calment to learn to walk again and continued living independently. She lived on her own until two weeks before her 110th birthday in 1984. Following a small fire accidentally being set in her home, she reluctantly moved to a nursing home. In April 1986, aged 111, she was hospitalized due to heart failure, and was treated with digoxin. She continued to walk with minimal assistance until shortly before her 115th birthday, when she broke her hip after suffering a fall. Despite recovering well from the surgery, she celebrated her 115th birthday from her hospital bed, and remained wheelchair bound for the rest of her life. Throughout her final decade of life, her vision gradually deteriorated, to the point where she could see little more than light by the time she was 114, and could only hear well out of one ear.

Neuropsychologist Karen Ritchie tested Calment for incipient dementia over a number of years. Through her tests, she found that Calment not only didn’t suffer from dementia, but saw her cognitive abilities improve through the testing.

On 20 June 1986, following the death of 112-year-old Eugénie Roux, Calment became the oldest living person in France.

On 18 July 1987, at the age of 112 years, 148 days, she surpassed the final age of Eugénie Roux (1874–1986) of 112 years, 147 days, becoming the oldest person ever in France.

On 27 December 1987, following the death of 114-year-old Anna Eliza Williams of the United Kingdom, Calment became the oldest living person in Europe.

On 7 July 1990, following the death of 116-year-old Easter Wiggins of the United States, Calment became the World’s Oldest Living Person.

On 30 March 1991, at the age of 116 years, 37 days, she surpassed the final age of Easter Wiggins (1874–1990) of 116 years, 36 days, becoming the World’s Oldest Person Ever.

Following her 122nd birthday in 1997, it was announced that Calment would no longer make any public appearances.

Jeanne Calment died in Arles, Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur, France, on 4 August 1997, at the age of 122 years, 164 days. Following her death, then 111-year-old Marie-Hélène Chanteperdrix, became the oldest living person in France, then 113-year-old Lucy Askew of the United Kingdom, became the oldest living person in Europe, and then 116-year-old Marie-Louise Meilleur of Canada, became the World’s Oldest Living Person.

Jeanne Calment on her 122nd birthday in 1997.

Longevity recognition

Oldest living person in France (20.06.1986 – 04.08.1997)
Oldest person ever in France (18.07.1987 – present)
Oldest living person in Europe (27.12.1987 – 04.08.1997)
World’s Oldest Living Person (07.07.1990 – 04.08.1997)
World’s Oldest Person Ever (30.03.1991 – present)

Validation

Her age was verified by Guinness World Records, and Dr. Jean-Marie Robine, and validated by Guinness World Records, and the Gerontology Research Group (GRG) on 11 January 1988. Her lifespan has been thoroughly documented by scientific study; more records have been produced to verify her age than for any other case. She was the first verified and undisputed person to reach 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, and 122. She remains the only person verified to have reached the ages of 120, 121, and 122.