Martha Graham (supercentenarian)

Martha Graham
Born	December, 1844
Died	June 25, 1959(1959-06-25) aged 114 years c.180 days Fayetteville, North Carolina
Known for	Oldest person

Martha Graham (December, 1844 – June 25, 1959) was an American supercentenarian who became the oldest person ever recorded, a title she held until the 1980s, when she was surpassed by Jeanne Calment.

Life and longevity

Little is known about Graham's life. She was born on December, 1844 into slavery.^[1][2] Upon the death of Betsy Baker on October 24, 1955, Graham became the oldest person in the world.^[2] Sometime in July 1958, Graham surpassed Delina Filkins's 1928 record as the oldest person ever recorded.^[3]

On June 25, 1959, Graham died, aged 114 years c. 180 days in Fayetteville, North Carolina.^[1] Initially, the Guinness Book of World Records believed her to have been 117 or 118 when she died. Succeeding her as oldest person alive was James Henry Brett, Jr., another American.^[4]

See also

• List of the verified oldest people
• Oldest people
• Supercentenarian

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b} McWhirter 1982, p. 26.
2. ^ ^{a b} Folkard 2005, p. 22.
3. ^ Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. 2004, p. 160
4. ^ Folkard 2005, p. 23.

References

• Folkard, Claire (2005). Guinness World Records 2005. Guinness World Records. New York: Bantam Dell. ISBN 0553588109. 
• "Living and All-Time World Longevity Record-Holders". Rejuvenation Research (Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.) 7 (2): 160. July 2004. doi:10.1089/1549168041552973. 
• McWhirter, Norris (1982). Guinness Book of World Records 1982. Guinness World Records. New York: Bantam Dell. ISBN 0553203568. 

External links

• Supercentenarians Older Than 112 Years (June 29, 1977 – August 10, 2004)

Preceded by Delina Filkins	Oldest recorded person ever July 1958 – December 1979	Succeeded by Shigechiyo Izumi (disputed)
Preceded by Betsy Baker	Oldest recognized living person October 24, 1955 – June 25, 1959	Succeeded by James Henry Brett, Jr. (disputed)
	Oldest recognized living woman October 24, 1955 – June 25, 1959	Succeeded by Christina Karnebeek

Persondata
Name	Graham, Martha
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1844
Place of birth
Date of death	June 25, 1959
Place of death	Fayetteville, North Carolina