List of longest-living United States Senators

This page contains a list of the eldest United States Senators among those currently living (sitting or former) and a list of the individuals who, at the time of their deaths, were the longest-lived United States Senators among those current or former senators then living. Of those living, the longest-lived senator is Harry F. Byrd, Jr., and Frank Lautenberg is the longest-lived sitting senator.

Contents

Oldest senators (historic)

This is a list of the senators who were, while in office or after, the oldest living before they died.

Begin Date End Date Senator State Birth Date
March 4, 1789 June 13, 1791[1] William Johnson[2] Connecticut October 7, 1727 (aged 61–63)
June 13, 1791 July 23, 1793 Roger Sherman[2] Connecticut April 19, 1721 (aged 70–72)
July 23, 1793 November 14, 1819 William Johnson[3] Connecticut October 7, 1727 (aged 65–92)
November 14, 1819 June 1, 1832 Thomas Sumter South Carolina August 14, 1734 (aged 85–97)
June 1, 1832 November 14, 1832 Charles Carroll Maryland September 19, 1737 (aged 94–95)
November 14, 1832 March 7, 1838 Paine Wingate New Hampshire May 14, 1739 (aged 92–98)
March 7, 1838 April 22, 1839 Samuel Smith Maryland July 27, 1752 (aged 85–86)
April 22, 1839 February 13, 1843 Nathaniel Chipman Vermont November 15, 1752 (aged 86–90)
February 13, 1843 February 25, 1845 Asher Robbins Rhode Island October 26, 1757 (aged 85–87)
February 25, 1845 December 22, 1850 William Plumer New Hampshire June 25, 1759 (aged 85–91)
December 22, 1850 April 12, 1851 David Daggett Connecticut December 31, 1764 (aged 85–86)
April 12, 1851 October 14, 1853 Elisha Mathewson Rhode Island April 18, 1767 (aged 83–86)
October 14, 1853 November 19, 1853 Samuel Crafts Vermont October 6, 1768 (aged 85)
November 19, 1853 July 24, 1854 Jonathan Roberts Pennsylvania August 16, 1771 (aged 82)
July 24, 1854 April 20, 1857 Benjamin Tappan Ohio May 25, 1773 (aged 81–83)
April 20, 1857 May 6, 1860 Littleton Tazewell Virginia December 17, 1774 (aged 82–85)
May 6, 1860 June 23, 1865 William Wilkins Pennsylvania December 20, 1779 (aged 80–85)
June 23, 1865 June 19, 1867 Henry Dodge Wisconsin October 12, 1782 (aged 82–84)
June 19, 1867 December 28, 1870 Wilson Lumpkin Georgia January 14, 1783 (aged 84–87)
December 28, 1870 June 20, 1874 John Ruggles Maine October 8, 1789 (aged 81–84)
June 20, 1874 July 3, 1878 Daniel Sturgeon Pennsylvania October 27, 1789 (aged 84–88)
July 3, 1878 September 16, 1887 Joseph Cilley New Hampshire January 4, 1791 (aged 87–96)
September 16, 1887 June 26, 1889 Simon Cameron Pennsylvania March 8, 1799 (aged 88–90)
June 26, 1889 April 4, 1893 David Meriwether Kentucky October 30, 1800 (aged 88–92)
April 4, 1893 January 6, 1901 James Bradbury Maine June 10, 1802 (aged 90–98)
January 6, 1901 October 7, 1906 Daniel Jewett Missouri September 14, 1807 (aged 93–99)
October 7, 1906 July 27, 1907 Edmund Pettus[4] Alabama July 6, 1821 (aged 85–86)
July 27, 1907 January 10, 1909 John Conness California September 22, 1821 (aged 85–87)
January 10, 1909 November 3, 1924 Cornelius Cole California September 17, 1822 (aged 86–102)
November 3, 1924 April 5, 1928 Chauncey Depew New York April 23, 1834 (aged 90–93)
April 5, 1928 January 24, 1930 Rebecca Felton Georgia June 10, 1835 (aged 92–94)
January 24, 1930 April 12, 1933 Adelbert Ames Mississippi October 31, 1835 (aged 94–97)
April 12, 1933 February 7, 1937 Elihu Root New York February 15, 1845 (aged 88–91)
February 7, 1937 January 26, 1938 Newell Sanders Tennessee July 12, 1850 (aged 86–87)
January 26, 1938 July 24, 1938 Obadiah Gardner Maine September 13, 1852 (aged 85)
July 24, 1938 April 30, 1940 Furnifold Simmons North Carolina January 20, 1854 (aged 84–86)
April 30, 1940 April 21, 1941[1] Fountain Thompson North Dakota November 18, 1854 (aged 85–86)
April 21, 1941 June 26, 1941 Andrew Houston[2] Texas June 21, 1854 (aged 86–87)
June 26, 1941 February 4, 1942 Fountain Thompson North Dakota November 18, 1854 (aged 86–87)
February 4, 1942 July 19, 1947 Robert Owen Oklahoma February 2, 1856 (aged 86–91)
July 19, 1947 July 27, 1954 Joseph Ransdell Louisiana October 7, 1858 (aged 88–95)
July 27, 1954 March 1, 1958 Lawrence Phipps Colorado August 30, 1862 (aged 91–95)
March 1, 1958 March 3, 1961 Joseph Grundy Pennsylvania January 13, 1863 (aged 95–98)
March 3, 1961 May 24, 1961 George Pepper Pennsylvania March 16, 1867 (aged 93–94)
May 24, 1961 May 19, 1966 Theodore Green Rhode Island October 2, 1867 (aged 93–98)
May 19, 1966 December 28, 1972 John Heiskell Arkansas November 2, 1872 (aged 93–100)
December 28, 1972 July 29, 1974 George Radcliffe Maryland August 22, 1877 (aged 95–96)
July 29, 1974 April 14, 1977 John Milton New Jersey January 21, 1881 (aged 93–96)
April 14, 1977 May 15, 1983 Hall Lusk Oregon September 21, 1883 (aged 93–99)
May 15, 1983 December 1, 1984 Stephen Young Ohio May 4, 1889 (aged 94–95)
December 1, 1984 March 20, 1988 Samuel Reynolds Nebraska August 11, 1890 (aged 94–97)
March 20, 1988 March 14, 1989 Gladys Pyle South Dakota October 4, 1890 (aged 97–98)
March 14, 1989 September 23, 1992 Frank Briggs Missouri February 25, 1894 (aged 95–98)
September 23, 1992 June 10, 1993 Milward Simpson Wyoming November 12, 1897 (aged 94–95)
June 10, 1993 May 29, 1995 Margaret Smith Maine December 14, 1897 (aged 95–97)
May 29, 1995 May 8, 1998 Jennings Randolph West Virginia March 8, 1902 (aged 93–96)
May 8, 1998 June 26, 2003 Strom Thurmond[4] South Carolina December 5, 1902 (aged 95–100)
June 26, 2003 August 18, 2004 Hiram Fong Hawaii October 15, 1906 (aged 96–97)
August 18, 2004 October 20, 2009 Clifford Hansen Wyoming October 16, 1912 (aged 91–97)
October 20, 2009 living Harry F. Byrd, Jr. Virginia December 20, 1914 (age 94–97)

Oldest senators currently living

This is a list of the 50 eldest senators, current or former, currently living.

Rank Senator Date of birth Senate term State served Party Age (years, days)
1 Harry F. Byrd, Jr. December 20, 1914 1965 – 1983 Virginia Democratic &1000000000000009700000097 years, &1000000000000007200000072 days
2 Edward Brooke October 26, 1919 1967 – 1979 Massachusetts Republican &1000000000000009200000092 years, &10000000000000127000000127 days
3 John Glenn July 18, 1921 1974 – 1999 Ohio Democratic &1000000000000009000000090 years, &10000000000000227000000227 days
4 Ernest Hollings January 1, 1922 1966 – 2005 South Carolina Democratic &1000000000000009000000090 years, &1000000000000006000000060 days
5 Jocelyn Burdick February 6, 1922 1992 North Dakota Democratic &1000000000000009000000090 years, &1000000000000002400000024 days
6 George McGovern July 19, 1922 1963 – 1981 South Dakota Democratic &1000000000000008900000089 years, &10000000000000226000000226 days
7 Paul Laxalt August 2, 1922 1974 – 1987 Nevada Republican &1000000000000008900000089 years, &10000000000000212000000212 days
8 James Abdnor February 13, 1923 1981 – 1987 South Dakota Republican &1000000000000008900000089 years, &1000000000000001700000017 days
9 James L. Buckley March 9, 1923 1971 – 1977 New York Conservative &1000000000000008800000088 years, &10000000000000358000000358 days
10 Bob Dole July 22, 1923 1969 – 1996 Kansas Republican &1000000000000008800000088 years, &10000000000000223000000223 days
11 Robert P. Griffin November 6, 1923 1966 – 1979 Michigan Republican &1000000000000008800000088 years, &10000000000000116000000116 days
12 Frank Lautenberg[5] January 23, 1924 1982 – 2001
2003 –		 New Jersey Democratic &1000000000000008800000088 years, &1000000000000003800000038 days
13 William Hathaway February 21, 1924 1973 – 1979 Maine Democratic &1000000000000008800000088 years, &100000000000000090000009 days
14 Jeremiah Denton July 15, 1924 1981 – 1987 Alabama Republican &1000000000000008700000087 years, &10000000000000230000000230 days
15 John Melcher September 6, 1924 1977 – 1989 Montana Democratic &1000000000000008700000087 years, &10000000000000177000000177 days
16 Daniel Inouye[5] September 7, 1924 1963 – Hawaii Democratic &1000000000000008700000087 years, &10000000000000176000000176 days
17 Wendell H. Ford September 8, 1924 1974 – 1999 Kentucky Democratic &1000000000000008700000087 years, &10000000000000175000000175 days
18 Daniel Akaka[5] September 11, 1924 1990 – Hawaii Democratic &1000000000000008700000087 years, &10000000000000172000000172 days
19 Dale Bumpers August 12, 1925 1975 – 1999 Arkansas Democratic &1000000000000008600000086 years, &10000000000000202000000202 days
20 Robert Burren Morgan October 5, 1925 1975 – 1981 North Carolina Democratic &1000000000000008600000086 years, &10000000000000148000000148 days
21 Daniel J. Evans October 16, 1925 1983 – 1989 Washington Republican &1000000000000008600000086 years, &10000000000000137000000137 days
22 Howard Baker November 15, 1925 1967 – 1985 Tennessee Republican &1000000000000008600000086 years, &10000000000000107000000107 days
23 Maryon Pittman Allen November 30, 1925 1978 Alabama Democratic &1000000000000008600000086 years, &1000000000000009200000092 days
24 Harris Wofford April 9, 1926 1991 – 1995 Pennsylvania Democratic &1000000000000008500000085 years, &10000000000000327000000327 days
25 Walter Huddleston April 15, 1926 1973 – 1985 Kentucky Democratic &1000000000000008500000085 years, &10000000000000321000000321 days
26 Mark Andrews May 19, 1926 1981 – 1987 North Dakota Republican &1000000000000008500000085 years, &10000000000000287000000287 days
27 Richard Schweiker June 1, 1926 1969 – 1981 Pennsylvania Republican &1000000000000008500000085 years, &10000000000000274000000274 days
28 Marlow Cook July 27, 1926 1968 – 1974 Kentucky Republican &1000000000000008500000085 years, &10000000000000218000000218 days
29 Harlan Mathews January 17, 1927 1993 – 1994 Tennessee Democratic &1000000000000008500000085 years, &1000000000000004400000044 days
30 John Warner February 18, 1927 1979 – 2009 Virginia Republican &1000000000000008500000085 years, &1000000000000001200000012 days
31 Alan J. Dixon July 7, 1927 1981 – 1993 Illinois Democratic &1000000000000008400000084 years, &10000000000000238000000238 days
32 Jim Broyhill August 19, 1927 1986 North Carolina Republican &1000000000000008400000084 years, &10000000000000195000000195 days
33 Walter Mondale January 5, 1928 1964 – 1977 Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor &1000000000000008400000084 years, &1000000000000005600000056 days
34 Slade Gorton January 8, 1928 1981 – 1987,
1989 – 2001		 Washington Republican &1000000000000008400000084 years, &1000000000000005300000053 days
35 Lauch Faircloth January 14, 1928 1993 – 1999 North Carolina Republican &1000000000000008400000084 years, &1000000000000004700000047 days
36 Birch Bayh January 22, 1928 1963 – 1981 Indiana Democratic &1000000000000008400000084 years, &1000000000000003900000039 days
37 Joseph Tydings May 4, 1928 1965 – 1971 Maryland Democratic &1000000000000008300000083 years, &10000000000000302000000302 days
38 Dick Clark September 14, 1928 1973 – 1979 Iowa Democratic &1000000000000008300000083 years, &10000000000000169000000169 days
39 Richard Stone September 22, 1928 1975 – 1981 Florida Democratic &1000000000000008300000083 years, &10000000000000161000000161 days
40 Roger Jepsen December 23, 1928 1979 – 1985 Iowa Republican &1000000000000008300000083 years, &1000000000000006900000069 days
41 Elaine Edwards March 8, 1929 1972 Louisiana Democratic &1000000000000008200000082 years, &10000000000000359000000359 days
42 David H. Gambrell December 20, 1929 1971 – 1972 Georgia Democratic &1000000000000008200000082 years, &1000000000000007200000072 days
43 Arlen Specter February 12, 1930 1981 – 2011 Pennsylvania Democratic &1000000000000008200000082 years, &1000000000000001800000018 days
44 Nicholas F. Brady April 11, 1930 1982 New Jersey Republican &1000000000000008100000081 years, &10000000000000325000000325 days
45 Mike Gravel May 13, 1930 1969 – 1981 Alaska Democratic &1000000000000008100000081 years, &10000000000000293000000293 days
46 Warren Rudman May 18, 1930 1981 – 1993 New Hampshire Republican &1000000000000008100000081 years, &10000000000000288000000288 days
47 Adlai Stevenson III October 10, 1930 1970 – 1981 Illinois Democratic &1000000000000008100000081 years, &10000000000000143000000143 days
48 Rudy Boschwitz November 7, 1930 1978 – 1991 Minnesota Republican &1000000000000008100000081 years, &10000000000000115000000115 days
49 Fred R. Harris November 13, 1930 1964 – 1973 Oklahoma Democratic &1000000000000008100000081 years, &10000000000000109000000109 days
50 Bill Brock November 23, 1930 1971 – 1977 Tennessee Republican &1000000000000008100000081 years, &1000000000000009900000099 days

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b Did not die on this date; an older senator took office.
  2. ^ a b c Was the oldest-living senator immediately upon taking office.
  3. ^ Held position the longest at 26 years and 115 days; second is Cornelius Cole at 15 years and 299 days.
  4. ^ a b Became the oldest-living senator during service in the Senate.
  5. ^ a b c Currently serving
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