John Painter
Born
John George Painter

(1888-09-20)September 20, 1888
Jackson County, Tennessee, U.S.
Died(2001-03-01)March 1, 2001
(aged 112 years, 162 days)
Hermitage Springs, Tennessee
Known for
  • First verified man who lived within three centuries (19th until the 21st century)
  • Oldest living man (November 15, 1999 – March 1, 2001)
Military career
AllegianceUnited States United States
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service1917–1919
Battles/warsWorld War I
AwardsTennessee Distinguished Award, Legion of Honour, Croix de Guerre

John George Painter (September 20, 1888 – March 1, 2001) was an American supercentenarian who was posthumously recognized as the world's oldest man and oldest American veteran.[1] He was also the first verified man who lived in three centuries (19th to the 21st centuries), with Margaret Ann Neve serving as his female equivalent.

Biography

Painter was born on September 20, 1888, on a farm in Jackson County, Tennessee. As a child, he attended school and worked on the farm. Longevity ran in Painter's family; his father lived to 99, and his siblings lived to ages between 87 and 105.

In 1917, at age 29, he enlisted in the United States Army. As a part of Battery D in the 115th Artillery Battalion, he hauled ammunition and artillery supplies, including field guns, transporting all the supplies on horses or mules. Painter saw action at the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. Eighty days after the armistice was declared on November 11, 1918, Painter received the highest French honor, the Légion d'honneur award. He also received the Croix de Guerre and was one of only six Tennessee World War I veterans to be awarded the Tennessee Distinguished Award. Painter had to leave his son, Sean Humphrey Painter, when he went to war. He was discharged from service on April 12, 1919, after serving in the army for two years.[2]

After his discharge, Painter pursued a career as a blacksmith and married his childhood sweetheart, Gillie Watson. The couple adopted two daughters. On November 19, 1999, Painter was recognized as the world's oldest veteran at age 111. On September 20, 2000, Tennessee Representative Bart Gordon read a proclamation in honor of John's 112th birthday.[3]

Governor Don Sundquist also declared on his birthday "John Painter Day" in Tennessee[2]

On March 1, 2001, John Painter died aged 112 years, 162 days at his home in Hermitage Springs, Tennessee of a heart attack.[4][3][5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Table M – World's Oldest Men (WOM) Titleholders Since 1973". Gerontology Research Group. July 14, 2015. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Oldest U.S. Veteran John Painter Dies". The Washington Post. March 4, 2001. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
  3. 1 2 Bart Gordon. "Honoring The 112th Birthday Of World War I Veteran John Painter". Congressional Record. Archived from the original on November 26, 2015. Retrieved December 9, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Oldest vet, WWI hero dies at 112". Lubbock online. March 4, 2001. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
  5. ↑ "News Briefs – Veteran Recognized". nashvillecitypaper.com. Nashville City Paper. March 6, 2001. Archived from the original on July 3, 2004.


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