Calment

Calment commonly refers to Jeanne Calment, a French woman who is widely recognized as the oldest verified human lifespan. Born February 21, 1875, in Arles, France, Calment spent most of her life in her hometown. She married Fernand Calment in 1896 and had a daughter, Yvonne, born in 1898, who died in 1931. Jeanne Calment remained in Arles throughout much of her life, enduring the hardships of the early 20th century and the Second World War.

Calment died on August 4, 1997, in Arles, at the age of 122 years and 164 days. Her age at death is the longest confirmed lifespan for a human, supported by extensive documentary evidence, including birth and marriage records and corroborating records from her family. The record is acknowledged by organizations such as the Guinness World Records and the Gerontology Research Group.

Her longevity attracted substantial public interest and scholarly attention. She is reported to have recalled a meeting with Vincent van Gogh in 1888 when he lived in Arles, a detail frequently cited in popular accounts, though some historians note uncertainties surrounding such anecdotes. In public statements, Calment attributed her long life to a moderate lifestyle and a sense of humor, and she remained mentally sharp into old age.

Over the years, some researchers have questioned aspects of the early-life documentation, leading to periodic scrutiny. Nevertheless, the consensus among major longevity databases remains that Calment holds the record for the longest confirmed human lifespan. See also: Gerontology Research Group, Guinness World Records, Oldest person.