The Last Living People Born in the 1800s are These 5 Women

We're always amazed when people live to see their 100s, and these five women have gone well beyond that. They've seemingly found the key to longevity and were all born in the late 1800s, making them 115 and 116 years old! Hailing from the United States, Italy, and Japan, these ladies have lived through countless monumental events in history. Two World Wars, the moon landing, and the birth of the Internet are just a few things they've witnessed. The list could go on and on.

Living well-past the average life expectancy has given these centenarians an extremely unique perspective on the world. They've seen a lot of changes, both good and bad, that have undoubtedly supplied them with an incredible amount of wisdom. But their secrets to living a long life? It's pretty simple. In a USA Today article from 2014, the women cite lots of sleep, staying active, and being kind to others as a few ways to attain old age.

Above: Misao Okawa, 116 Years Old (World's Oldest Living Person) from Japan. Born March 5, 1898.

Photo source: Reddit

Photo source: USA Today

Gertrude Weaver, 116 Years Old from the United States. Born July 4, 1898.

Photo source: USA Today

Photo source: The Portland Press Herald

Susannah Mushatt-Jones, 115 Years Old from the United States. Born July 6, 1899.

Photo source: TIME

Photo source: NY Daily News

Jeralean Talley, 115 Years Old from the United States. Born May 23, 1899.

Photo source: HNGN

Photo source: USA Today

Emma Morano-Martinuzzi, 115 Years Old from Italy. Born November 29, 1899.

via [Distractify, Bored Panda, and USA Today]

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met, Manager of My Modern Met Store, and co-host of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. As an illustrator and writer living in Seattle, she chronicles illustration, embroidery, and beyond through her blog Brown Paper Bag and Instagram @brwnpaperbag. She wrote a book about embroidery artist Sarah K. Benning titled "Embroidered Life" that was published by Chronicle Books in 2019. Sara is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art. She earned her BFA in Illustration in 2008 and MFA in Illustration Practice in 2013.
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