Geert Adriaans Boomgaard

Geert Adriaans Boomgaard
Geert Adriaans Boomgaard at the age of 100, in 1888
Born (1788-09-21)21 September 1788
Groningen, Netherlands
Died (1899-02-03)3 February 1899
(aged 110 years, 135 days)
Groningen, Netherlands
Known for
  • First person validated to reach age 110
  • Longest confirmed worldwide lifespan until 1 October 1902 when it was surpassed by Margaret Ann Neve
  • Longest confirmed worldwide male lifespan until 29 October 1966 when it was surpassed by John Mosely Turner
Spouse(s)
Stijntje Bus (m. 1818–1830)

(her death)
Grietje Abels Jonker (m. 1831–1864)

(her death)
Children 12

Geert Adriaans Boomgaard (21 September 1788 – 3 February 1899) was a Dutch supercentenarian. He is accepted as the first validated supercentenarian case on record.[1][2] Since there is evidence that he served as a soldier in Napoleon's Grande Armée, Boomgaard might in fact have been the oldest military veteran ever for several decades.[3]

Life

Boomgaard later in life, in the 1890s

Little is known about Boomgaard's life. He was born in Groningen, Netherlands, where he also died. His parents were Adriaan Jacobs Boomgaard (1763-1844) and Geesje Geerts Bontekoe (1762-1834).[4] His father was captain on a boat, and civil records say that Geert did the same work.[5] Other sources[3] say that he had also served as a soldier in the 33rd Light Infantry Regiment in Napoleon's Grande Armée.

At the age of 29, on 4 March 1818, he married Stijntje Bus (19 February 1797 - 24 March 1830).[5] Stijntje died aged 33, a month after the birth of their 8th child. A year later, 17 March 1831, Boomgaard married Grietje Abels Jonker (19 May 1788 - 18 May 1864), with whom he had four more children, for a total of 12. His last surviving child, Jansje Hinderika, died at the age of 57 in May 1885.

Boomgaard died at age 110 years 135 days in Groningen.

Evidence

Research on Boomgaard was published in three articles by E.J. Heeres in the genealogical periodical Gruoninga in 1976, 1977 and 1978. The website http://www.stehelene.org, which is dedicated to the rebuilding of the lost archives on the Médaille de Sainte-Hélène, shows his photograph, his (presumed) personal Sainte-Hélène medal, and a certificate which states that "Adriaans, Gerrit, à Groningue, Pays-Bas, received this medal" on behalf of his active military service during the reign of Napoleon I. The certificate is registered at la Grande Chancellerie No. 1871, and bears the stamped signature of the Duc de Plaisance Général Anne-Charles Lebrun, Grand Chancelier (1853–1859).

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Table A - Verified Supercentenarians (Listed Chronologically By Birth Date)". Retrieved 2016-11-09.
  2. ↑ http://www.grg.org/Gallery/Pre1850sGallery.html Gerontology Research Group
  3. 1 2 Derniers vétérans de l'Armée napoléonienne, Premier Empire (in French)
  4. ↑ Nieuwsblad van het Noorden, 3 April 1982
  5. 1 2
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