Walter Breuning stopped smoking cigars at age 103 because they became too expensive. At age 108, he began smoking cigars again after receiving a lot of gifts of cigars. He ultimately ended up living to age 114.5 and was the second-last verified surviving man born in the 1800s.

Walter Breuning

Walter Breuning (September 21, 1896 – April 14, 2011) was an American supercentenarian who was the oldest recognized living man in the world between July 18, 2009 and his death. As of 2021, Breuning was the third-oldest verified American man ever, behind Danish-born Christian Mortensen and Mathew Beard, as well as the second-oldest man ever born in the United States. At the time of his death, he was the fourth-oldest verified man ever; as of 2021, he is the fifth-oldest.

Biography

Walter Breuning in seventh grade, second from left, top row with blue “x”, October 1907

Walter Breuning was born in Melrose, Minnesota. He was the son of John and Cora (née Morehouse) Breuning, and had two brothers and two sisters. In 1901, when he was… Continue Reading (7 minute read)