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Robert Coles

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Robert Coles
Robert Coles
Robert Coles at the age of 106.
Birth: 24 December 1806
Canterbury, England, UK
Death: 28 January 1914
Croydon, England, UK
Age: 107 years, 35 days
Country: United KingdomUK
Centenarian

Robert George Coles (24 December 1806 – 28 January 1914) was a British centenarian whose age is currently unvalidated by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG). At the time of his death, he may have been the oldest living person in Britain, having attained the final age of 107 years, 35 days. If his age is true, he may have been succeeded by Ann Pouder as the oldest living British-born person upon his death.

Biography[]

Early Life[]

Robert George Coles was born on 24th December 1806 in Canterbury, Kent, England, UK to William Coles (1779-1820) and Christian Coles (née Shank; 1783-?). He was christened on 1st February 1807 in Mells, Somerset, England.

At the age of 14, his father died. This influenced Coles to run away from home and move to Colchester, Essex, England. It was at this time that he began to be employed by Mrs. Jones (a wealthy local) as a stable boy. After 7 years (1827), Mrs. Jones passed away and Coles travelled to Portsmouth, England and began to work for Admiral Rowley. After 9 years (1836) in Rowley's service, Coles began to work for a parson instead.

Military Career[]

In 1838, Coles moved to Durham, England and attempted to enlist in the Dragoon Guards. However, he was denied entry due to his age; he was 31 (turning 32 in December) and the maximum age for enlistment was 30. To resolve this, Coles lied about his age, stating he was born on the 24th December 1808 (making him 29, turning 30 in December) and therefore young enough to enlist. From then, until his death, he stuck with the 1808 birthday and claimed to be 1 or 2 years younger than he actually was. He was then subsequently accepted into the 68th Regiment of Foot (service number 2451).

Coles well remembered 'the hungry forties' and, in 1845, was stationed in Birr, Ireland to protect incoming supply ships from robbery during the outbreak of the Irish potato famine. In 1851, he was promoted from the rank of private to the rank of sergeant. Coles returned home to Durham at the end of the Irish potato famine, in 1852.

In 1853, he was stationed in Sevastopol, Crimea in response to the outbreak of the Crimean War. Coles returned home to Durham unharmed at the end of the Crimean War, in 1856. In response to the outbreak of the 1857 Indian Rebellion Coles retired from service, not wishing to be stationed abroad again. Coles then moved to Neath, Wales and started to work at an iron-foundry and was also employed by General Gordon's sister, as a factorum.

Later Life[]

By 1869 Coles had moved to Bristol, Gloucestershire, England and was an eye witness to the fire that struck the Prince's Theatre on 27th December. Coles even described how his coat was taken and used to help put out the blaze, burning his discharge paper in the process. In 1884, he moved to Croydon, Surrey, England where he would reside for the remainder of his life.

Coles started to pick up notoriety in 1910 at the age of 104 (although reports vary from 102-103) and from then until his death hundreds of articles were written about his advanced age! In 1911, at the age of 105, Coles was invited by the Mayor of Croydon as his guest of honor at the local coronation feast held in honor of King Edward VII's coronation. Eye witnesses described how Coles made an attempt to stand for the national anthem but was too weak and fell backwards into his chair.

When asked about his secret to longevity, Coles responded that he didn't believe in over-drinking and that "a glass of bear a day is sufficient for anyone". He also stated that he had never smoked in his life and regarded it as "ain't a natural habit". When asked about his hobbies, Coles explained that he enjoyed chopping wood, making rabbit hutches and showing rabbits.

Coles enjoyed surprisingly good health until the age of 105, when he started to occasionally become a bit weak when walking for long amounts of time. By the time he was 107, Coles was almost completely deaf and had poor eyesight but was in good health apart from that. In December 1913, Coles started to suffer from an illness and was no longer able to go outside. Then on 27 January 1914, in his 108th year, Coles suffered a serious fall which ultimately had fatal consequences because he passed away the next day.

Robert George Coles died in Croydon, Surrey, England, UK on 28 January 1914 at the final age of 107 years, 35 days. Coles was also the last known person left who was born in 1806.

Gallery[]

References[]

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