Margaret Ann Neve
Encyclopedia
Margaret Ann Neve, née Harvey (18 May 1792 – 4 April 1903) of St. Peter Port, Guernsey
, was the first recorded female supercentenarian
, and the first supercentenarian of either sex in the 20th century. Neve was the only supercentenarian born in the 18th century who lived to the 20th century, and she was the first supercentenarian to live in three different centuries. This made her the oldest person ever to have lived in three centuries, and a supercentenrian would not live in three centuries until 100 years later at the turn from the 20th to the 21st century; first in 2001 there were people older than her that lived in three centuries.
brought to Guernsey. In 1807, Neve set sail for Weymouth with her father, but a storm caused the ship to land at Chesil Beach
. She was educated in Bristol
, England, gaining an interest in literature and poetry. Neve met with Charles François Dumouriez
, a general of the French Revolutionary Wars
, who dubbed her la spirituelle. She married John Neve in 1823 in England, but returned to Guernsey in 1849 after his death. Neve travelled abroad to various countries with her sister, who died aged 98. Their last trip was in 1872, when they visited Cracow (then in Austria-Hungary
, now in Poland). Her mother lived to the age of 99. She was the oldest living person
at the time of her death at age 110 years 321 days and also the oldest person ever at that point, if the disputed case of Thomas Peters
is discounted. Either way, she was surpassed by Louisa Thiers in 1925, though she is still the oldest one of only two supercentenarians from the Channel Islands
, along with Ethel Wood, and one of the few recorded persons who lived in the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries.
Guernsey
Guernsey, officially the Bailiwick of Guernsey is a British Crown dependency in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy.The Bailiwick, as a governing entity, embraces not only all 10 parishes on the Island of Guernsey, but also the islands of Herm, Jethou, Burhou, and Lihou and their islet...
, was the first recorded female supercentenarian
Supercentenarian
A supercentenarian is someone who has reached the age of 110 years. This age is achieved by about one in a thousand centenarians....
, and the first supercentenarian of either sex in the 20th century. Neve was the only supercentenarian born in the 18th century who lived to the 20th century, and she was the first supercentenarian to live in three different centuries. This made her the oldest person ever to have lived in three centuries, and a supercentenrian would not live in three centuries until 100 years later at the turn from the 20th to the 21st century; first in 2001 there were people older than her that lived in three centuries.
Biography
As a child, Neve survived a fall down the stairs, which left her concussed for three days. Neve could remember the turmoil that the French RevolutionFrench Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
brought to Guernsey. In 1807, Neve set sail for Weymouth with her father, but a storm caused the ship to land at Chesil Beach
Chesil Beach
Chesil Beach, sometimes called Chesil Bank, in Dorset, southern England is one of three major shingle structures in Britain. Its toponym is derived from the Old English ceosel or cisel, meaning "gravel" or "shingle"....
. She was educated in Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, England, gaining an interest in literature and poetry. Neve met with Charles François Dumouriez
Charles François Dumouriez
Charles-François du Périer Dumouriez was a French general during the French Revolutionary Wars. He shared the victory at Valmy with General François Christophe Kellermann, but later deserted the Revolutionary Army and became a royalist intriguer during the reign of Napoleon.-Early life:Dumouriez...
, a general of the French Revolutionary Wars
French Revolutionary Wars
The French Revolutionary Wars were a series of major conflicts, from 1792 until 1802, fought between the French Revolutionary government and several European states...
, who dubbed her la spirituelle. She married John Neve in 1823 in England, but returned to Guernsey in 1849 after his death. Neve travelled abroad to various countries with her sister, who died aged 98. Their last trip was in 1872, when they visited Cracow (then in Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
, now in Poland). Her mother lived to the age of 99. She was the oldest living person
Oldest people
This is a list of tables of the verified oldest people in the world in ordinal rank, such as oldest person or oldest man. In these tables, a supercentenarian is considered 'verified' if his or her claim has been validated by an international body that specifically deals in longevity research, such...
at the time of her death at age 110 years 321 days and also the oldest person ever at that point, if the disputed case of Thomas Peters
Thomas Peters (supercentenarian)
Thomas Peters was a Dutch supercentenarian. He is the earliest recorded supercentarian accepted by Guinness World Records. Originally in a footnote, the Peters case was later promoted although subsequent questions were raised about documentation. Indeed, it appears that if the documentation ever...
is discounted. Either way, she was surpassed by Louisa Thiers in 1925, though she is still the oldest one of only two supercentenarians from the Channel Islands
Channel Islands
The Channel Islands are an archipelago of British Crown Dependencies in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two separate bailiwicks: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey...
, along with Ethel Wood, and one of the few recorded persons who lived in the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries.
See also
- List of British supercentenarians
- List of the verified oldest people
- LongevityLongevityThe word "longevity" is sometimes used as a synonym for "life expectancy" in demography or known as "long life", especially when it concerns someone or something lasting longer than expected ....
- Oldest peopleOldest peopleThis is a list of tables of the verified oldest people in the world in ordinal rank, such as oldest person or oldest man. In these tables, a supercentenarian is considered 'verified' if his or her claim has been validated by an international body that specifically deals in longevity research, such...
- SupercentenarianSupercentenarianA supercentenarian is someone who has reached the age of 110 years. This age is achieved by about one in a thousand centenarians....