LONDON, Aug 21 (Reuters) — Ethel Caterham, the world’s oldest living person, turned 117 on Thursday in Lightwater, England.
She has now witnessed 21 U.S. presidencies, two world wars, and two global pandemics. Her life spans from the horse-drawn era to the age of artificial intelligence. The BBC reported the milestone from her care home in Surrey, where family gathered for a modest tea. CNN and RTE also covered the event, noting Guinness World Records’ official recognition of her status.
Caterham was born in 1909. Theodore Roosevelt was in the White House. The Titanic had not yet sailed. She was a child during the 1918 influenza pandemic, which killed 50 million people globally. A century later, she lived through COVID-19, which claimed over 7 million lives. The difference in response, she told the BBC, is science. “But people are still scared,” she said. “That part never changes.”
Her timeline tracks American political evolution with brutal clarity.
| U.S. President | Term | Key World Event During Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| Theodore Roosevelt | 1901-1909 | Panama Canal construction |
| William Taft | 1909-1913 | Ford Model T mass production |
| Woodrow Wilson | 1913-1921 | World War I; 1918 flu |
| Warren Harding | 1921-1923 | Teapot Dome scandal |
| Calvin Coolidge | 1923-1929 | Roaring Twenties peak |
| Herbert Hoover | 1929-1933 | Wall Street Crash |
| Franklin D. Roosevelt | 1933-1945 | New Deal; WWII |
| Harry Truman | 1945-1953 | Atomic bomb; UN founded |
| Dwight Eisenhower | 1953-1961 | Civil Rights Act 1957 |
| John F. Kennedy | 1961-1963 | Cuban Missile Crisis |
| Lyndon Johnson | 1963-1969 | Vietnam War escalation |
| Richard Nixon | 1969-1974 | Moon landing; Watergate |
| Gerald Ford | 1974-1977 | Fall of Saigon |
| Jimmy Carter | 1977-1981 | Iran hostage crisis |
| Ronald Reagan | 1981-1989 | Cold War endgame |
| George H.W. Bush | 1989-1993 | Soviet Union dissolved |
| Bill Clinton | 1993-2001 | Dot-com boom |
| George W. Bush | 2001-2009 | 9/11; Iraq War |
| Barack Obama | 2009-2017 | Affordable Care Act |
| Donald Trump | 2017-2021 | COVID-19 pandemic |
| Joe Biden | 2021-2025 | AI explosion; Ukraine war |
Her advice for America’s future is blunt. “Stop shouting at each other,” she said in a 2025 interview. “Listen more. It’s not that hard.”
Her longevity secret? She credits a daily sherry, dark chocolate, and “avoiding stupidity.” Genetics help. Her sister lived to 106. Gerontologists point to her active mind and social engagement. She read newspapers daily until age 112, then switched to radio news. “Television is too fast,” she said.
The global reaction has been swift. Social media hashtags #Ethel117 and #WorldOldestPerson trended across platforms. Britain’s King Charles sent a private note. The Prime Minister called her “a national archive.” RTE noted that Ireland’s oldest citizens sent a congratulatory telegram. The BBC’s coverage emphasized her routine: breakfast at 8 a.m., a walk in the garden, lunch with family, and a 4 p.m. cup of tea.
Caterham’s perspective on America’s current divisions is informed by lived experience. She has seen wars, depressions, assassinations, and insurrections. “America always figures it out,” she said. “Slowly. But it does.”
The science of extreme longevity remains incomplete. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute note that supercentenarians typically share three traits: low inflammation, strong social bonds, and a sense of purpose. Caterham fits all three. She still greets every visitor personally. She remembers names. She asks questions.
Her 117th birthday is not merely a personal milestone. It is a calibration point for human history. She has lived through 55% of all U.S. presidencies. She has survived every major geopolitical shift of the 20th century. Her memory is a living archive.
What does she say about the future? “People keep asking me that,” she told the BBC. “I just say: be kind. Work hard. Eat your vegetables. And don’t worry so much.”
The world is watching. She is not finished yet.
💡 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Q: How many U.S. presidents has Ethel Caterham lived through?
- A: Ethel Caterham has witnessed 21 U.S. presidencies, from Theodore Roosevelt to the current president.
- Q: What major historical events has she experienced?
- A: She has lived through two world wars, the 1918 influenza pandemic, COVID-19, the Great Depression, the Civil Rights Movement, and the rise of artificial intelligence.
- Q: What does she say about the difference between the two pandemics?
- A: She notes that science has improved, but human fear remains unchanged, highlighting a persistent emotional response despite technological progress.
Extended Reading
The BBC’s full profile of Caterham is available online, alongside CNN’s video interview and RTE’s archival piece on centenarian resilience.