Javier Pereira
3775042
179389745
2007-12-21T14:00:48Z
RJFJR
141808
[[Category:Longevity myths]]
'''Javier Pereira''' (allegedly born [[1789]], date of death unknown but in the 1950s) was reputedly over 160 years old at the time of his death. He was a Zenu [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Indian]] who lived in [[Colombia]]. Although his death is variously said to have been in [[1955]], [[1956]], and 1958, sources all claim that he was born in 1789.
Pereira's [[Longevity claims|claim]] was not supported by independent research. He was said to have had five wives and to be seeking another when he was "discovered" in [[1954]]; allegedly his last remaining grandchild had died in [[1941]] at the age of 85. Interviewed by historians, he was able to supply information about well-known historical events such as the Battle of [[Cartagena, Colombia|Cartagena]], fought in [[1815]], as well as about Indian conflicts and a terrible [[famine]] that had taken place years before. Asked about the secret of his [[longevity]], Pereira said that one must chew [[cocoa]], drink plenty of [[coffee]], smoke a big [[cigar]] now and then, and not worry. Pereira was flown to [[New York City]] to be checked by teams of modern doctors. He was four feet four inches tall and weighed seventy-five pounds. He had no teeth but his hair was still brown. He had the [[blood pressure]] and arterial health of a young man, could easily stand on one leg and [[Glossary of ballet terms#P|pirouette]], and walk several blocks and up a couple of flights of stairs without losing his breath. One doctor said he had the appearance of a man "more than 150 years old," which raises the interesting question of how the doctor would know that even if Pereira were actually as old as claimed.
The most specific [[death]] date reported is [[30 March]] [[1958]] in his home town of [[MonterĂa]]. His [[obituary]] was reported in ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' for [[14 April]] [[1958]] on page 88. Colombia issued a [[postage stamp]] commemorating Pereira. [[Scientist]]s consider this case a longevity myth.
==External links==
*[http://custance.org/Library/SOTW/APPENDIXES/App_I.html Biographical, medical information and obituary reference]
*[http://www.skygaze.com/content/facts/people.shtml Pereira's ethnicity, historical recollections, and longevity]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Periera, Javier}}
[[Category:1789 births]]
[[Category:Colombian people]]
[[Category:Longevity myths]]
[[Category:Year of death missing]]