Jeanne Calment

File:Jeanne-Calment-1997.jpg

Jeanne Calment

Name	Jeanne Calment
Birth name
Birth date	21 February 1875
Birth place	Arles, France
Death date	4 August 1997
Death place	Arles, France
Alma mater
Occupation
Years active
Organization
Known for	Longest confirmed human lifespan
Notable works
Spouse(s)
Website

Jeanne Louise Calment (21 February 1875 – 4 August 1997) was a French supercentenarian who had the longest confirmed human lifespan on record, living to the age of 122 years and 164 days. Her longevity attracted significant attention from researchers and the public, and she became a symbol of extreme human longevity.

Early Life

Jeanne Calment was born in Arles, France, to Nicolas Calment and Marguerite Gilles. Her family was well-off, and her father was a shipbuilder. She had an older brother, François, who also lived to an advanced age, dying at 97.

Personal Life

In 1896, Jeanne married her second cousin, Fernand Nicolas Calment, a wealthy store owner. The couple had one daughter, Yvonne, who was born in 1898. Yvonne married and had a son, Frédéric, but she died of pneumonia in 1934. Jeanne raised her grandson, who later became a doctor.

Longevity

Jeanne Calment's longevity was attributed to a combination of genetics, lifestyle, and possibly environmental factors. She lived independently until the age of 110, when she moved into a nursing home. Her mental faculties remained sharp, and she was known for her wit and humor.

Lifestyle

Calment led an active lifestyle, enjoying cycling, swimming, and playing tennis in her youth. She continued to ride a bicycle until the age of 100. She attributed her long life to a diet rich in olive oil, port wine, and chocolate, and she was known to have smoked cigarettes until the age of 117.

Verification

Jeanne Calment's age was verified through extensive documentation, including birth and marriage records, and she was recognized by the Guinness World Records as the oldest person ever. Her longevity was studied by gerontologists and researchers interested in the limits of human lifespan.

Death

Jeanne Calment passed away on 4 August 1997 in Arles, France. Her death marked the end of an era, as she was the last documented person to have been born in the 1870s.

Legacy

Jeanne Calment's life and longevity have been the subject of numerous studies and discussions in the fields of gerontology and demography. Her life story has inspired many and continues to be a point of reference in the study of human aging.

Also see

• Supercentenarian
• Longevity
• Gerontology
• Demography
• Oldest people