Old Tom Parr facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Old Tom Parr
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| Born |
Thomas Parr
c. October 1482/1483 (reputedly) Parish of Alberbury, Shropshire
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| Died | 13 November 1635 (claimed aged 152) London
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| Burial place | Westminster Abbey, London |
| Nationality | English |
| Other names | Old Parr |
| Occupation | Farm servant |
| Known for | Longevity claimant |
| Height | 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) |
| Spouse(s) |
Jane Taylor
(m. 1563; died 1593)Jane Lloyd
(m. 1605) |
| Children | 2 legitimate (died in infancy), 1 illegitimate |
| Parent(s) |
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Thomas "Old Tom" Parr was an Englishman famous for supposedly living for 152 years! He was born around 1482 or 1483 and passed away on November 13, 1635. A painting of him hangs in the Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery. It says he died at 152 years and 19 days old. This painting was once owned by the Leighton family, who lived near where Tom Parr grew up.
Contents
The Life of Old Tom Parr
Early Years and Simple Living
Tom Parr was likely born in October 1482 or 1483. He lived in a small village called Winnington in Shropshire. His home is now known as Old Parr's Cottage.
A doctor named William Harvey wrote about Tom Parr's diet. He said Parr ate "subrancid cheese and milk in every form." He also ate "coarse and hard bread and small drink, generally sour whey." This simple food, along with living a stress-free life at home, helped him live for so long.
Tom Parr married his first wife, Jane Taylor, when he was supposedly 80 years old. They had two children, but sadly, both died when they were babies.
Later Life and Fame
After his first wife passed away, when he was said to be 110, Tom Parr married again. His second wife was a widow named Jane Lloyd. He was supposedly 122 years old when they married. They lived together for twelve years. Jane said that he never seemed to get old or weak during their time together.
As word spread about his amazing age, 'Old Parr' became very famous across England. Even famous painters like Rubens and Van Dyck painted his portrait.
Meeting the King and His Death
In 1635, a nobleman named Thomas Howard, the Earl of Arundel, visited Tom Parr. The Earl was so impressed that he took Parr to London to meet King Charles I. The King wanted to see this "curious piece of nature."
Parr's daughter-in-law and an entertainer called Jack the Fool went with him on the trip. As their carriage traveled towards London, huge crowds gathered. People pushed to touch him and hear him speak. By the time he reached London, Parr was reportedly blind and weak.
King Charles I asked Parr: "Master Parr, you have lived longer than other men. What have you done more than other men?" Parr replied that he had done something he regretted in his youth. The King was stern, saying: "Fie, fie old man. Can you remember nothing but your vices?"
In London, Tom Parr was treated like a celebrity. However, the rich food and new environment were too much for him. He died just a few weeks later, on November 13, 1635. The King arranged for him to be buried in Westminster Abbey on November 25, 1635.
His gravestone in Westminster Abbey reads:
Questions About His Age
After Tom Parr died, a famous doctor named William Harvey performed an autopsy on his body. Harvey was the doctor who discovered how blood circulates in the body. He found that all of Parr's internal organs seemed perfectly healthy. He couldn't find a clear reason for his death. It was thought that Parr might have died because he was given too much rich food in London.
Today, some experts who have looked at the autopsy results believe that Tom Parr was probably much younger than 152 years old, perhaps less than 70. It's possible that his birth records were mixed up with those of his grandfather. Tom Parr himself couldn't remember specific events from the 1400s.
