Emiliano Mercado del Toro

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Mercado and the second or maternal family name is del Toro.
Emiliano Mercado del Toro
Mercado in December 2006
Born(1891-08-21)August 21, 1891
Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, Kingdom of Spain
Died(2007-01-24)January 24, 2007
(aged 115 years, 156 days)
Isabela, Puerto Rico
Resting placeCementerio Municipal San Martín de Porres in
Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico
Other namesEmilio
Known for
  • World's oldest living man (November 19, 2004 – January 24, 2007)
  • World's oldest living person (December 11, 2006 – January 24, 2007)
  • Oldest verified military veteran ever
  • Oldest Puerto Rican ever
Military career
AllegianceUnited States United States of America
Service / branch United States Army
RankPrivate
Battles / warsWorld War I

Emiliano Mercado del Toro (August 21, 1891 – January 24, 2007) was a Puerto Rican supercentenarian and military veteran who was, at age 115, the world's oldest person following the death of 116-year-old Elizabeth Bolden on December 11, 2006, until his own death on January 24, 2007. He had already been the world's oldest man from November 19, 2004, upon the death of Fred Harold Hale.[1][2] At the time of his death in January 2007, aged 115 years and 156 days, Mercado was the second oldest fully validated male ever, behind Danish-American Christian Mortensen's record of 115 years 252 days.[3] Japanese man, Shigechiyo Izumi, was still believed to be older at the time of Mercado's death, but his record was withdrawn by Guinness World Records in 2010.[4]

  1. ^ "Elizabeth Bolden, 116; was world's oldest person". Obituaries, Los Angeles Times. December 12, 2006. Archived from the original on 2007-01-07. Retrieved 2006-12-12.
  2. ^ Young, Robert D (September 17, 2012). "GRG Table C (2012) World's Oldest Person Titleholders (since 1955)". Gerontology Research Group. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
  3. ^ "GRG Table B". Gerontology Research Group. March 21, 2012. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
  4. ^ Craig Glenday (2011). Guinness Book of World Records. p. 211.