Jiroemon Kimura - Oldest Man Ever

Jiroemon Kimura was recognized by Guinness World Records as being the oldest man in recorded history. He achieved that feat on December 28, 2012. He died at the age of 116 on June 12, 2013 in a Japanese hospital.

He was born on April 19, 1897 when Queen Victoria stilled reigned in the British Empire. Life expectancy in Japan was 44  years at that time. He was able to dodge tuberculosis and pneumonia, two of the bigger killers at that time.

He worked at post offices for 45 years before retiring in 1962 at the age of 65. He spent his remaining years reading and watching sumo wrestling on television. He also helped his son with his farm until he was 90.

He missed the record of the oldest person ever. Jeanne Calmet was 122 when she died in France in 1997.