Geert Adriaans Boomgaard (21 September 1788 – 3 February 1899) is accepted by most demographic scholars as the first validated supercentenarian case on record. However, some may view him as the second internationally recognized supercentenarian in the world after the disputed case of his fellow countryman Thomas Peters (1745–1857) was grandfathered into the Guinness Book main tables (from the footnotes) in the early 1990s.
Since there is evidence that he served as a soldier in Napoleon's Grande Armée, Boomgaard might in fact have been the oldest military veteran ever for several decades.[1]
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Little is known about Boomgaard's life. He was born in Groningen, Netherlands, where he also died. His father was captain on a boat and civil records say that Geert did the same work as his father. Other sources say that he served as a soldier in the 33rd Light Infantry Regiment in Napoleon's Grande Armée.[2]
He married on 4 March 1818 to Stijntje Bus and remarried after her death on 17 March 1831 to Grietje Abels Jonker.
Boomgaard died at age 110 years 135 days.
Research on Boomgaard was published in three articles by E. J. Heeres in the genealogical periodical Gruoninga in 1976, 1977 and 1978. The website http://www.stehelene.org, which is dedicated to the rebuilding of the lost archives on the Médaille de Sainte-Hélène, shows his photograph, his (presumed) personal Sainte-Hélène medal, and a certificate which states that "Adriaans, Gerrit, à Groningue, Pays-Bas, received this medal" on behalf of his active military service during the reign of Napoleon I. The certificate is registered at la Grande Chancellerie No. 1871, and bears the stamped signature of the Duc de Plaisance Général Anne-Charles Lebrun, Grand Chancelier (1853–1859).
Boomgaard's death certificate confirms that he reached the age of 110.
| Preceded by Anne D'Evergroote (October 18, 1783 – March 14, 1892) (aged 108 years 148 days) |
Undisputed Oldest Recorded Person Ever February 16, 1897 – September 30, 1902 |
Succeeded by Margaret Ann Neve |
| Preceded by Pierre Darcourt |
Undisputed Oldest Recorded Man Ever January 7, 1897 – October 28, 1966 |
Succeeded by John Mosely Turner |