Emiliano Mercado del Toro, Puerto Rican-American soldier (b. 1891)

Emiliano Mercado del Toro, born on August 21, 1891, in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, was a remarkable figure in the study of extreme human longevity. He lived to be 115 years and 156 days old, passing away on January 24, 2007. More than just a supercentenarian—a person who has reached the age of 110 years or more—Mercado del Toro was also a distinguished military veteran, holding significant titles as the world's oldest living man and, briefly, the world's oldest living person.

His extraordinary life spanned three centuries, witnessing profound global changes. Born into a time before widespread automobiles or air travel, he lived to experience the dawn of the internet age. Mercado del Toro was a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served during World War I. While he did not see active combat overseas, his service made him one of the very last surviving verified veterans of that pivotal global conflict, a testament to his incredible lifespan.

Ascension to World's Oldest Man and Person

Emiliano Mercado del Toro's validated age placed him in an elite category among the oldest people ever. He officially became the world's oldest living man on November 19, 2004, following the death of Fred H. Hale, Sr., an American supercentenarian who held the title before him. Mercado del Toro maintained this prestigious distinction for more than two years.

His longevity journey culminated when he briefly held the title of the world's oldest living person overall. This occurred for six weeks, beginning on December 11, 2006, after the passing of Elizabeth Bolden, an American supercentenarian who was 116 years old. Mercado del Toro's brief tenure as the absolute oldest person on Earth underscored his exceptional place in demographic history, before his own death in early 2007.

Validated Longevity and Historical Context

At the time of his death in January 2007, at the precise age of 115 years and 156 days, Emiliano Mercado del Toro was recognized as the second oldest fully validated male in recorded history. His age was rigorously verified by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG), a global organization that meticulously authenticates the ages of the world's oldest individuals using extensive documentation such as birth certificates, census records, and other official documents.

He was surpassed only by Christian Mortensen, a Danish-American supercentenarian who achieved a validated age of 115 years and 252 days. It is important to note a historical clarification regarding Shigechiyo Izumi. While Izumi was still widely believed to be older than Mercado del Toro at the time of Mercado's death, Izumi's record was subsequently withdrawn by Guinness World Records in 2010 due to insufficient and inconclusive birth documentation. This highlights the stringent and evolving standards required for the official validation of extreme longevity claims, ensuring accuracy in the historical record of supercentenarians.

Frequently Asked Questions About Supercentenarians

What is a supercentenarian?
A supercentenarian is an individual who has reached the remarkable age of 110 years or older. This demographic is exceedingly rare, with only a very small fraction of centenarians (people aged 100 or more) reaching this advanced age.
How are the ages of supercentenarians verified?
The verification process for supercentenarians is highly rigorous. Organizations like the Gerontology Research Group (GRG) meticulously examine multiple forms of official documentation, including birth certificates, census records, marriage licenses, and other historical documents, to confirm an individual's birth date and ensure their age is accurately validated.
What made Emiliano Mercado del Toro's longevity particularly notable?
Emiliano Mercado del Toro's longevity was notable for several reasons: he was a male supercentenarian (who are rarer than female supercentenarians at extreme ages), he was one of the last verified World War I veterans, and he held the titles of both the world's oldest man and, for a period, the world's oldest person overall. His validated age placed him among the very oldest men ever recorded.