The Earliest Born People Filmed

This page lists the earliest born individuals filmed. It should be noted that this topic is under-researched.

See also other lists of earliest-born and firsts.

This page is a permanent work-in-progress. If you have information that could improve this list, please email me.

 

Motion Picture Film

Traditional motion picture film; includes anyone born in 1825 or earlier, as well as anyone born in 1840 or earlier who was filmed in sound. These individuals have a well-documented life, an established date of death as well as a reliable source or a contemporary portrait confirming the identity of the person filmed. Individuals who are unidentified or have an unverified age are listed separately. It seems likely that more elderly people, especially famous ones, were filmed during the early days of cinematography than are listed here.

 

Name

Gender

Film(s) (Link)

Date of birth

Date of death

Final age (years)

Place of birth

Place of death

Sound

Date(s) filmed

Sources

Pope Leo XIII (Vincenzo Pecci)

M

1, 1 (UK only)

2 Mar. 1810

20 Jul. 1903

93

French Empire

Kingdom of Italy

No

Apr./May 1898

1, 2

Rebecca Allen Clarke

F

Unpublished (still)

bap. 14 Oct. 1810 (claims as early as 1804)

6 Jul. 1914

103+

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

No

1896-1912 (likely after 1904)

1, 2, 3

Sarah Robinson Whitley

F

1

1816

24 Oct. 1888

71/72

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

No

14 Oct. 1888

1, 2

Joseph Whitley

M

1

17 Oct. 1816

11 Jan. 1891

74

United Kingdom

USA

No

14 Oct. 1888

1,

Artúr Görgei de Görgő et Toporc

M

1

30 Jan. 1818

21 May. 1916

98

Austrian Empire

Austria-Hungary

No

1908

1

John Manners, 7th Duke of Rutland

M

1, 1 (UK only), 2(?)

13 Dec. 1818

4 Aug. 1906

87

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

No

28 May 1898

1, 2

Queen Victoria

F

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

24 May 1819

22 Jan. 1901

81

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

No

1896, 1897, 1898, 1900

1

Bartolomé Mitre

M

1

26 Jun. 1821

19 Jan. 1906

84

Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata

Argentina

No

15 Nov. 1901

1, 2, 3

Princess Augusta of Cambridge

F

1

19 Jul. 1822

5 Dec. 1916

94

Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz

German Empire

No

c. 1912

1, 2, 3,  4, 5

John Richard Voorhis

M

1

27 Jul. 1829

5 Feb. 1932

102

USA

USA

Yes

24 Jul. 1929

1, 2

Lydia Ann Garcelon Steward

F

1

1 Oct. 1829

25 Dec. 1931

102

USA

USA

Yes

1 Oct. 1929

1, 2

Lucius Alden Burrell

M

1

26 Apr. 1833

2 Aug. 1932

99

USA

USA

Yes

4 Apr. 1930

1

Rebecca Ann Latimer Felton

F

1

10 Jun. 1835

24 Jan. 1930

94

USA

USA

Yes

9 Apr. 1929

1

Almira Damon Burrell

F

1

4 May 1836

18 Apr. 1930

93

USA

USA

Yes

4 Apr. 1930

1

Galusha Marion Cole

M

1

15 Aug. 1837 (claimed 1827)

11 Apr. 1931

93

USA

USA

Yes

19 Aug. 1929

1, 2

Robert Maclay Widney

M

1

23 Dec. 1838

14 Nov. 1929

90

USA

USA

Yes

28 Dec. 1928

1, 2

John Davison Rockefeller Sr

M

1

8 Jul. 1839

23 May 1937

97

USA

USA

Yes

1932

1

Susan Willingham Banks Brewster Pledger Becker

F

1

14 Jan. 1840

21 Oct. 1932

92

USA

USA

Yes

1932

1, 2, 3

 

Motion Picture Film; Unidentified or Unverified Age

Name

Gender

Film(s) (Link)

Date of birth

Date of death

Final age (years)

Place of birth

Place of death

Sound

Date(s) filmed

Sources

___ Minaki (Grandmother of Minaki Brothers)

F

1

1790/91?

aft. 1905

114+?

prob. Southern Balkans (Ottoman Empire?)

prob. Southern Balkans (Ottoman Empire?)

No

1905

1, 2

Stepan V. Zhuk

M

1

1793/94?

aft. 1912

118+?

Russian Empire

Russian Empire

No

1912

1, 2, 3

Evgeniya I. Zhernosenkova

F

1

1796/97?

aft. 1912

115+?

Russian Empire

Russian Empire

No

1912

1, 2, 3

Mammy Lou

F

Film lost

1803/04?

aft. 1918

114+?

USA (?)

USA (?)

No

1918

1, 2

A. Sisson

F

1, 2

1818/19?

aft. 1922

103+?

United Kingdom (?)

United Kingdom (?)

No

1920, 1922

1, 2

Stephen Smith

M

1

19 Feb. 1823?

26 Aug. 1922

99?

USA

USA

No

1922

1, 2, 3, 4

Sarah Sutton

F

1

21 Jul. 1832 - 19 Jul. 1833?

aft. 20 Jul. 1932

99+?

USA(?)

USA(?)

Yes

20 Jul. 1932

1

Frances ___

F

1

late 1833?

aft. 30 May 1934

100+?

USA(?)

USA(?)

Yes

30 May 1934

1

Margaret Meseroll Hayes

F

1

Nov./11 Dec. 1833?

18 Jul. 1934

100?

British North America

USA

Yes

11 Dec. 1929

1, 2, 3, 4

Unknown

M

1

21 Feb. 1834 - 19 Feb. 1835?

aft 20 Feb. 1929

94+?

USA (?)

USA (?)

Yes

20 Feb. 1929

1

Mary E. Burgan Conn

F

1

13/17/18 Nov. 1834?

7 Jul. 1936

101?

USA

USA

Yes

18 Nov. 1934

1, 2, 3

Uncle Charlie

M

1

5 Dec. 1835 - 3 Dec. 1836?

aft. 4 Dec. 1928

92+

USA (?)

USA (?)

Yes

4 Dec. 1928

1

___ Draper

M

1

18 Jan. 1839 - 16 Jan. 1840?

aft 17 Jan. 1930

90+?

USA (?)

USA (?)

Yes

17 Jan. 1930

1

Joseph Lanning Hallinger

M

1

2 Sep. 1840 or 1841/42?

25 Mar. 1935

93-95

USA

USA

Yes

24 May 1928

1, 2, 3

 

Animated Photographs

The boundaries of what can be considered a motion picture are vague. The following people have been the subject of multiple photographs taken in rapid succession on a single occasion. These photographs can be animated to create movement, giving the effect of a low-frame film that shows more than just a different angle (3D).

The person must display visible and realistic motion. Movement in the background and other elements of the image must be reasonably explainable. For example, a book that inexplicably moves by itself is not allowed. Head turns must be below 90 degrees. People showing subtle movement are marked olive. Individuals marked pale yellow are unidentified or have an unknown birthdate. Anyone born between 1810 and 1825 must have more than 2 images. This list is likely far from complete.

 

Name

Gender

Link(s)

Date of birth

Date of death

Final age (years)

Place of birth

Place of death

No. of known animatable photographs (total)

Date(s) photographed

Sources

Edward Venables-Vernon-Harcourt

M

1

10 Oct. 1757

5 Nov. 1847

90

Kingdom of Great Britain

United Kingdom

2

4 Oct. 1844

1, 2, 3, 4

Adam Ferguson

M

1

21 Dec. 1770

23 Dec. 1854

84

Kingdom of Great Britain

United Kingdom

2

1843-47

1, 2, 3

Robert Haldane

M

1

27 Jan. 1772

9 Mar. 1854

82

Kingdom of Great Britain

United Kingdom

3

1843-47

1, 2

Jean-Gabriel Eynard

M

1, 2

28 Dec. 1775

5 Feb. 1863

87

Kingdom of France

Switzerland

4

c. 1852

1, 2

Lady Juliet (MacPherson) Brewster

F

1

c. 1776/86?

27 Jan. 1850

63/73?

Kingdom of Great Britain

United Kingdom

2

1843-47

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Alexander Greig

M

1

7 Apr. 1776

29 Mar. 1857

80

Kingdom of Great Britain

United Kingdom

2

1843-47

1, 2

Anne (Palgrave) Rigby

F

1

28 Jul. 1777

2 Sep. 1872

95

Kingdom of Great Britain

United Kingdom

2

1843-47

1, 2, 3

Robert Bryson

M

1

25 Aug. 1778

8 Aug. 1852

73

Kingdom of Great Britain

United Kingdom

2

1843-47

1, 2, 3

Jabez Bunting

M

1

13 May 1779

16 Jun. 1858

79

Kingdom of Great Britain

United Kingdom

2

1843-47

1, 2

John Campbell, 1st Baron Campbell

M

1

15 Sep. 1779

23 Jun. 1861

81

Kingdom of Great Britain

United Kingdom

2

before Feb. 1857

1, 2, 3

Unknown

F

1

c. 1780?

aft. 1843-47

60s+?

Kingdom of Great Britain (?)

United Kingdom (?)

2

1843-47

1, 2

Unknown

F

1

c. 1780?

aft. 1843-47

60s+?

Kingdom of Great Britain (?)

United Kingdom (?)

2

1843-47

1, 2

___ Mercer

M

1

c. 1780?

aft. 1843-47

60s+?

Kingdom of Great Britain (?)

United Kingdom (?)

4

1843-47

1

George Gunn

M

1

c. 1780?

aft. 1843-47

60s+?

Kingdom of Great Britain (?)

United Kingdom (?)

2

1843-47

1

Mrs. Williamson

F

1

c. 1780?

aft. 1843-47

60s+?

Kingdom of Great Britain (?)

United Kingdom (?)

4

1843-47

1, 2

Michael Stirling

M

1

c. 1780

1865

c. 85

Kingdom of Great Britain (?)

United Kingdom (?)

4

1843-47

1, 2

John Bird Sumner

M

1, 2

25 Feb. 1780

6 Sep. 1862

82

Kingdom of Great Britain

United Kingdom

4

1862

1, 2, 3, 4

Henry William Pickersgill

M

1

3 Dec. 1782

21 Apr. 1875

92

Kingdom of Great Britain

United Kingdom

2

1860-64

1, 2

Henri Isaac Maximilien de Budé

M

1

1784

1862

77/78

Unknown

Switzerland (?)

2

c. 1852

1, 2

Charles Morris

M

1

26 Jul. 1784

27 Jan. 1856

71

USA

USA

8

1850-56

1, 2

Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston

M

1

20 Oct. 1784

18 Oct. 1865

80

Kingdom of Great Britain

United Kingdom

2

1863

1, 2, 3

Amélie de Budé

F

1

16 Dec. 1784

15 Jul. 1862

77

Republic of Geneva

Switzerland

2

c. 1852

1, 2

Michel Eugène Chevreul

M

1

31 Aug. 1786

9 Apr. 1889

102

Kingdom of France

French Third Republic

c. 100

31 Aug. 1886

1, 2

Theodore Frelinghuysen

M

1

28 Mar. 1787

12 Apr. 1862

75

USA

USA

2

1850s/60s

1, 2, 3

Louis Jacques Mandé Daguerre

M

1

18 Nov. 1787

10 Jul. 1851

63

Kingdom of France

French Second Republic

4

1848

1

Jan Evangelista Purkyně

M

1

17 or 18 Dec. 1787

28 Jul. 1869

81

Habsburg Monarchy

Austria-Hungary

9

c. 1865

1,

John Russell, 1st Earl Russell

M

1, 2, 3

18 Aug. 1792

28 May 1878

85

Kingdom of Great Britain

United Kingdom

2

early 1860s, 1861, c. 1867

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

George Cruikshank

M

1

27 Sep. 1792

1 Feb. 1878

85

Kingdom of Great Britain

United Kingdom

2

c. 1857

1, 2, 3

Alexander Earle Monteith

M

1

1793

12 Jan. 1861

67-68

Kingdom of Great Britain (?)

United Kingdom

2

1843-47

1, 2

Charles Thomas Longley

M

1

28 Jul. 1794

27 Oct. 1868

74

Kingdom of Great Britain

United Kingdom

2

1861

1, 2, 3

James Glencairn Burns

M

1

12 Aug. 1794

18 Nov. 1865

71

Kingdom of Great Britain

United Kingdom

2

1843-47

1, 2

George Peabody

M

1, 2

18 Feb. 1795

4 Nov. 1869

74

USA

United Kingdom

4

1860s

1, 2

Antoine François Jean Claudet

M

1

18 Aug. 1797

27 Dec. 1867

70

French First Republic

United Kingdom

2

c. 1851

1, 2

Edward Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby

M

1, 2

29 Mar. 1799

23 Oct. 1869

70

Kingdom of Great Britain

United Kingdom

4

17 Feb. 1861, 1865

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

James Duncan Graham

M

1

1 Apr. 1799

28 Dec. 1865

66

USA

USA

3

late 1850s

1, 2

Sir George Grey, 2nd Bt

M

1, 2

11 May 1799

9 Sep. 1882

83

Gibraltar

United Kingdom (?)

4

1860s, c. 1863

1, 2

Alexander Hill

M

1, 2

1800

6 Mar. 1900

66/65

Kingdom of Great Britain (?)

United Kingdom (?)

2

1843-47

1, 2

William Henry Fox Talbot

M

1

11 Feb. 1800

17 Sep. 1877

77

Kingdom of Great Britain

United Kingdom

2

Spring 1841

1, 2

Thomas Babington Macaulay, 1st Baron Macaulay

M

1

25 Oct. 1800

28 Dec. 1859

59

Kingdom of Great Britain

United Kingdom

2

Apr. 1856

1, 2, 3

Fox Maule-Ramsay, 11th Earl of Dalhousie

M

1

22 Apr. 1801

6 Jul. 1874

73

Kingdom of Great Britain

United Kingdom

2

1858

1, 2, 3

John Arthur Roebuck

M

1

28 Dec. 1802

30 Nov. 1879

76

British India

United Kingdom

2

1865

1, 2, 3

John Maitland

M

1

17 Jan. 1803

6 Sep. 1865

62

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

2

1843-47

1, 2

David Arnott

M

1

20 Mar. 1803

15 May 1877

74

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

2

1843-47

1, 2

Charles James Mathews

M

1

26 Dec. 1803

24 Jun. 1878

74

United Kingdom

United Kingdom (?)

2

1863

1, 2, 3

Ralph Abercombie Anstruther

M

1

1 Mar. 1804

18 Oct. 1863

59

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

2

1843-47

1, 2

Mary Watson

M

1

19 Apr. 1804

aft. c. 1860

56+

United Kingdom (?)

United Kingdom (?)

2

1843-47

1, 2, 3

Joseph-Philibert Girault de Prangey

M

1

21 Oct. 1804

7 Dec. 1892

88

French Republic

French Third Republic

2

1840/41

1, 2, 3

Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield

M

1

21 Dec. 1804

19 Apr. 1881

76

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

2

1868

1, 2, 3

Samuel Wilberforce

M

1, 2

7 Sep. 1805

19 Jul. 1873

67

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

5

early 1860s, 1864

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

John Murray

M

1

16 Apr. 1808

2 Apr. 1892

83

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

2

1843-47

1, 2

Abraham Lincoln

M

1

12 Feb. 1809

15 Apr. 1865

56

USA

USA

2

8 Jan. 1864

1, 2

William Ewart Gladstone

M

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

29 Dec. 1809

19 May 1898

88

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

9

1861, 1862-66, 9 Jul. 1863, c. 1866

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Gaspard-Félix Tournachon (Nadar)

M

1, 2

5 or 6 Apr. 1820

20 Mar. 1910

89

Kingdom of France

French Third Republic

12

1865

1

Adrien Alban Tournachon (Nadar jeune)

M

1

25 Aug. 1825

24 Jan. 1903

77

Kingdom of France

French Third Republic

12

c. 1858

1

   

Version November 2025
© 2025 arago86 and Benjamin S. Beck