Ethel Lang facts for kids

Ethel Lang (born Ethel Lancaster) lived a very long life. She was born on May 27, 1900, and passed away on January 15, 2015. This means she lived for over 114 years! She was a supercentenarian, which is a special name for someone who lives to be 110 years old or older.

When she died, Ethel Lang was the oldest person living in the United Kingdom. She was also the ninth oldest person in the entire world. In Europe, she was the second-oldest living person, right after Emma Morano.

Who Was Ethel Lang?

Ethel Lang was born in a place called Worsbrough, which is near Barnsley in England. Her parents were Charles and Sarah Lancaster. She grew up in a time very different from today.

Her Early Life

Ethel's childhood was quite busy. She left school when she was just 13 years old. After leaving school, she started working in a shirt factory. This was common for many young people at that time.

In 1922, Ethel married William Lang. The next year, in 1923, they welcomed their daughter, Margaret, into the world. Ethel came from a family where people lived long lives. Her mother lived to be 91, and her great-grandmother lived to be 92.

A Link to History

Ethel Lang holds a special place in history. She was the very last person in Britain who was born during the reign of Queen Victoria. Queen Victoria was a famous queen who ruled for a very long time, from 1837 to 1901. This means Ethel was born just before Queen Victoria's reign ended.

Living a Long Life

Living to be a supercentenarian like Ethel Lang is very rare. Only a small number of people in the world reach such an incredible age. Her long life allowed her to see many changes in the world, from horse-drawn carriages to the internet.