James M. King was an American supercentenarian whose age is currently pending by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG). He is the oldest known man ever born in the US state of Arkansas, and is also the oldest known man ever who died in the US state of Louisiana. If validated, he may have been the world's oldest living person and the oldest man ever at the time of death.
James Monroe (or Madison) King was born in Independence County, Arkansas, USA, on 15 November 1854. After the death of his parents, he and his two brothers Mack and William relocated to Missouri in the 1860s. King moved to Franklin Parish, Louisiana, in 1870.
During his life, he had multiple jobs such as a school board member, merchant, farmer, and carpenter. He was married to Clara Brinsfield and the couple had 10 children in total. Clara died in 1928 aged 69.
His secrets of longevity included hard work and avoiding tobacco. One of his sons, Dr. Brinsfield King (1886–1987) lived to be 100.
James M. King died in Winnsboro, Franklin Parish, Louisiana, USA, on 5 June 1967, aged 112 years, 202 days.
His age has been pending by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG) since May 2013.
On 30 December 1964, a month after turning 110, he became a candidate for the title of the world’s oldest living person following the death of 113-year-old Mary Kelly of California.
At the time of death, he could’ve been the oldest man ever.
