John Evans (supercentenarian)
Encyclopedia
John Evans of Fforestfach
, Swansea
was the longest-lived authenticated
man ever from the United Kingdom from 27 May 1989 until 29 March 2009, when Henry Allingham
broke his record. Evans was also the oldest recognized living man
at the time of his death.
(1856–1968). In March 1986, at 108, Evans was the oldest person to be fitted with a pacemaker
, from which he made a quick recovery. Evans attributed his longevity to abstinence of smoking, drinking, swearing, and gambling. On his 110th birthday, he visited London for the first time in his life. According to a news item published on his death,
The article went on
The British male longevity record set by Evans, who died at 112 years and 295 days old, was surpassed by Henry Allingham
on 29 March 2009. Evans is recognised as the world's oldest man from 25 November 1988, from the death of Alphaeus Philemon Cole
, until Evans' death. Guinness
had recognised Evans as the "world's oldest man" in 1989, but let the title lapse after his death, only to bring it back in 2000.
Fforestfach
Fforestfach is a suburban district of Swansea, Wales. It lies within the Cockett ward. The area is residential combined with light industry and out of town shopping due to its proximity to the M4 motorway and several dual carriageways. Famous names like Marks and Spencer and Walkers Crisps had...
, Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
was the longest-lived authenticated
Authentication
Authentication is the act of confirming the truth of an attribute of a datum or entity...
man ever from the United Kingdom from 27 May 1989 until 29 March 2009, when Henry Allingham
Henry Allingham
Henry William Allingham was a British supercentenarian, First World War veteran and, for one month, the verified oldest living man in the world...
broke his record. Evans was also the oldest recognized living man
Oldest people
This is a list of tables of the verified oldest people in the world in ordinal rank, such as oldest person or oldest man. In these tables, a supercentenarian is considered 'verified' if his or her claim has been validated by an international body that specifically deals in longevity research, such...
at the time of his death.
Biography
Evans had been a Welsh coal miner, and became the oldest man in the United Kingdom ever when he broke the record of England's John Mosely TurnerJohn Mosely Turner
John Mosely Turner was a British supercentenarian and the oldest recognised living person for more than two years...
(1856–1968). In March 1986, at 108, Evans was the oldest person to be fitted with a pacemaker
Artificial pacemaker
A pacemaker is a medical device that uses electrical impulses, delivered by electrodes contacting the heart muscles, to regulate the beating of the heart...
, from which he made a quick recovery. Evans attributed his longevity to abstinence of smoking, drinking, swearing, and gambling. On his 110th birthday, he visited London for the first time in his life. According to a news item published on his death,
- The lively, talkative character who thoroughly enjoyed all the publicity surrounding each birthday milestone, passed away in his sleep at his cottage in Fforest-fach, West Glamorgan, said his daughter-in-law Mrs Betty Evans. "A big gap has been left in our lives. The longer John was with us, the harder it was going to be to say goodbye," she added. "Everyone will always have such happy memories of him. He brightened up people's lives, young and old. "John went very peacefully, in his chair beside his bed. He had been a little unwell for a few days." Mr Evans was born in 1877, the year Queen Victoria was proclaimed Empress of India. He delighted in talking of his memories of Gladstone, the Boer War and Lloyd George. He made medical history when at 108 he became the oldest person to be fitted with a heart pacemaker. Doctors at Cardiff's University Hospital were astounded when he was able to return home just three days later. "It's given me a new lease of life – and I don't have to go back to have new batteries put in for another 10 years" he joked at the time.
The article went on
- Mr Evans went down the mines when he was 13 and was forced to retire at 73 because of National Coal Board rules at the time. He was a founder member of the National Union of Mineworkers in south Wales. Many of his family of three sons and a daughter, six grandchildren and nine great grandchildren, live locally and were regular visitors to his cottage. His daily routine always started with his favourite breakfast – a bowl of bran and a little honey in boiled water.
The British male longevity record set by Evans, who died at 112 years and 295 days old, was surpassed by Henry Allingham
Henry Allingham
Henry William Allingham was a British supercentenarian, First World War veteran and, for one month, the verified oldest living man in the world...
on 29 March 2009. Evans is recognised as the world's oldest man from 25 November 1988, from the death of Alphaeus Philemon Cole
Alphaeus Philemon Cole
Alphaeus Philemon Cole was an American artist, engraver and etcher. He was born in Jersey City, New Jersey and died in New York City. He was the son of noted engraver Timothy Cole...
, until Evans' death. Guinness
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
had recognised Evans as the "world's oldest man" in 1989, but let the title lapse after his death, only to bring it back in 2000.
See also
- List of British supercentenarians
- List of the verified oldest men
- LongevityLongevityThe word "longevity" is sometimes used as a synonym for "life expectancy" in demography or known as "long life", especially when it concerns someone or something lasting longer than expected ....
- Oldest peopleOldest peopleThis is a list of tables of the verified oldest people in the world in ordinal rank, such as oldest person or oldest man. In these tables, a supercentenarian is considered 'verified' if his or her claim has been validated by an international body that specifically deals in longevity research, such...
- SupercentenarianSupercentenarianA supercentenarian is someone who has reached the age of 110 years. This age is achieved by about one in a thousand centenarians....