| Birth Date: | 21 July 1682 |
| Birth Place: | Kinsarvik, Denmark–Norway |
| Death Date: | (aged) |
| Death Place: | Kinsarvik, Denmark–Norway |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Known For: |
|
Eilif Philipsen (July 21, 1682 – June 20, 1785)[1] was a Norwegian farmer known for his longevity, possibly being the first documented centenarian ever. He was accordingly the oldest verified living person at the time of his death in 1785, as well as during the previous three years.[2] [3] [4]
According to church records, Philipsen was born a twin on July 21, 1682, in the village of Kinsarvik, then a part of the Kingdom of Denmark–Norway. His twin sister went by the name of Ingeborg; they were both baptized the same day they were born. In 1701, when the first Norwegian census had been conducted, he was listed as being of 18 years of age, and living with his father and two brothers—10-year-old Jacob, along with 3-year-old Hans.
In 1721, while nearing 40, he married a 22-year-old. Two years later, he was said to have been involved in a court case. In 1727, he inherited a farm that would eventually be given to the husband of his adopted daughter in 1753. In April 1783, he was mentioned in a local vicar's letter to Bolle Willum Luxdorph. His death was recorded to have taken place in Kinsarvik, his hometown, on June 20, 1785—aged 102 years and 334 days.
Although the general consensus appears to conclude that he was, in fact, the first documented centenarian, there are a few scholars in academia who beg to differ. For instance, according to the demographer James Vaupel and the epidemiologist Bernard Jeune, Philipsen had been confused with "another member of his family bearing the same name," stating that "we do not have enough knowledge about his relatives to rule this possibility out."[5]