Christian Mortensen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Christian Mortensen
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Drawing of Christian Mortensen
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Thomas Peter Thorvald Kristian Ferdinand Mortensen
August 16, 1882 Skårup, Denmark
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| Died | April 25, 1998 (aged 115 years, 252 days) San Rafael, California, U.S.
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Christian Mortensen was an amazing person who lived for a very long time! His full name was Thomas Peter Thorvald Kristian Ferdinand Mortensen. He was born in Denmark in 1882 and passed away in California, USA, in 1998. When he died, he was 115 years and 252 days old. This made him the oldest man ever recorded at that time. Later, another man named Jiroemon Kimura lived even longer.
Christian was baptized in Fruering Church in Denmark in December 1882. Records from 1890 and 1901 also show him living in Denmark. He also had his church confirmation in 1896.
Christian Mortensen's Life Story
Christian Mortensen was born on August 16, 1882. His family lived in a small village called Skårup in Denmark. His father was a tailor. When Christian was 16, in 1898, he started learning to be a tailor in Skanderborg. Later, he also worked as a farmhand.
In 1903, when Christian was about 20 or 21 years old, he moved to the United States. He arrived at Ellis Island in New York. He traveled while working as a tailor. He eventually settled in Chicago, where he had some relatives. Christian worked many different jobs. He was a milkman for Borden Dairy Company. He also worked in a restaurant and a factory.
Christian was married for a short time but did not have any children. He never married again.
In 1950, Christian retired near Galveston Bay, Texas. Twenty-eight years later, when he was 96 years old, he moved to a retirement home. This home was in San Rafael, California. Christian said he rode his bicycle all the way to the Aldersly Retirement Community. He told the staff he was there to stay! Christian lived at Aldersly for almost 20 years. He stayed there until he passed away in 1998.
When Christian turned 113, some scientists came to visit him. One of them was an American scientist named James Vaupel. Christian was very happy when they brought him a box of Danish cigars. He enjoyed an occasional cigar. Christian also preferred to eat mostly vegetables. He always drank boiled water.
Towards the end of his life, Christian could not see very well. He often used a wheelchair. He spent a lot of time listening to the radio. He could remember things that happened a long time ago very well. But he sometimes had trouble remembering recent events. He needed more help from the staff as he got older.
On his 115th birthday, Christian shared his secrets for a long life. He said: "Friends, a good cigar, drinking lots of good water, no alcohol, staying positive and lots of singing will keep you alive for a long time."
See Also
- Oldest people
- List of the oldest people by country
- List of the verified oldest people
- List of supercentenarians in the Nordic countries
- List of Danish supercentenarians
- Jiroemon Kimura, oldest verified male in history since 2012
