| Jules Theobald | |
 Theobald in November 2019 | |
| Unvalidated |
Jules Theobald (born 17 April 1909) is a French supercentenarian whose age is currently unvalidated by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG). He may be the oldest living man in France since the Roger Auvin 13 October 2019.
Biography
Theobald was born in Le Robert, Martinique, France, on 17 April 1909. While he celebrates his birthday on April 17th, he claims that he was likely born a bit earlier, and that this date was instead the day his birth was registered, as birth registration was often delayed in an era where infant mortality was high. In addition, some of his family members have stated that he could have even been born as early as 1907, although there is no way of corroborating this claim.
He worked as a fisherman, where he would sometimes fish onboard just a canoe, as opposed to a more modern fishing vessel. Since he would often be out at sea for long periods of time, this career was occasionally fraught with dangers, including having to be rescued from a sinking boat.
At the age of 110, he stated that the only thing preventing him from returning to his career as a fisherman was his inability to walk, remarking "if the Lord gave me the strength to get on my boat, I would go to sea". Aside from being wheelchair bound and hard of hearing, he remains in good health. He continues to live in a house by the sea, taken care of by his son, Christian, and daughter, Gabrielle. His eldest daughter lives in France, but often visited him prior to the pandemic.
On 3 November 2019, he was visited by the president of the Association of Inhabitants of the coast of Pointe des Negres (HLPN), Philippe Meyniac.
Theobald currently lives in La Pointe des Negres, Fort-de-France, Martinique, France, at the age of 115 years, 2 days. Following the death of 113-year-old Julie Montabord on 18 July 2019, he became the oldest living person in Martinique. He is the oldest man ever to have lived in Martinique. After surpassing the final age of Maurice Floquet (1894-2006) on 4 March 2021, he became the oldest French man ever recorded, as well as the first to reach the age of 112.
Gallery
References
- 110 ans et un trophée pour Jules Théobald France-Antilles Martinique, 4 November 2019
- À 110 ans, le Foyalais Théobald est le doyen des Français RCI, 27 November 2019
- Le Martiniquais Jules Théobald, doyen des Français, a 111 ans aujourd’hui France-Antilles Martinique, 17 April 2020
- Jules Théobald, bientôt 112 ans, mis à l'honneur France-Antilles Martinique, 15 March 2021
| France's Oldest Living Man Titleholders (V • E) |
|
Jean Teillet • Louis-Jules Lebon • Unknown • Pierre James • Adolphe Gravelines • Henri Perignon • Faustin Jaumard • Louis Brard • Andre Raynaud • Emile Fourcade • Bernard Delhom • Louis Arthur Bon • Leon-Clement Estivals • Jules Many • Theophane Rifosta • Alexis Daigneau • Raymond Abescat • Joseph Rabenda • Jean Chevenet • Maurice Floquet • Aime Avignon • Louis de Cazenave • Lazare Ponticelli • Pierre Picault • Joseph Malahieude • Felix Rostaing • Philibert Parnasse • Charles De Antoni • Andre Coudrat • Louis Le Bouedec • Emile Turlant • Philippe Vocanson • Roger Gouzy • Robert Bourdon • Georges Massard • Roger Auvin • Jules Theobald • Marcel Meys • Andre Boite • Jose Van Zandijcke • Andre Ludwig • Maurice Le Coutour |