John Tinniswood, recognized as the world’s oldest man, passed away at the age of 112. Tinniswood died on Monday in a care home in Southport, England, as announced by Guinness World Records (GWR) on Tuesday.
“His last day was surrounded by music and love,” his family shared in a statement to GWR.
Born on August 26, 1912, Tinniswood became the world’s oldest living man in April 2024, following the death of 114-year-old Juan Vicente Pérez from Venezuela.
Tinniswood attributed his longevity to “pure luck,” telling GWR earlier this year: “You either live long or you live short, and you can’t do much about it.”
However, he did offer one key piece of health advice: moderation. “If you drink too much or you eat too much or you walk too much; if you do too much of anything, you’re going to suffer eventually,” he said.
Tinniswood also shared life advice for younger generations, emphasizing effort and dedication.
“Always do the best you can, whether you’re learning something or whether you’re teaching someone. Give it all you’ve got. Otherwise, it’s not worth bothering with.”
John Tinniswood, The World’s Oldest Man
He is survived by his daughter, Susan, along with four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
His family praised his many qualities, stating: “John had many fine qualities. He was intelligent, decisive, brave, calm in any crisis, talented at maths, and a great conversationalist.”
According to GWR, the oldest man ever was Jiroemon Kimura of Japan, born in 1897, who lived to the age of 116 before passing away in 2013.
This year has also seen the loss of the world’s oldest person, Maria Branyas Morera. The US-born woman died at the age of 117 years and 168 days.
Morera, who lived in Catalonia, Spain, had resided in the same nursing home, Residència Santa María del Tura, for 22 years. She became the eighth-oldest person in verified history.
The record for the oldest person ever belongs to Jeanne Louise Calment of France. Born on February 21, 1875, Calment lived for 122 years and 164 days, as verified by GWR.
