Earliest living United States Senator
This page contains the individuals, who, at the time of their deaths, were the earliest living senators of any U.S. state. It categorizes earliest living in two respects. There is a list of Senators who were the oldest living Senators and there is also a list of Senators who were the most senior living Senators at the time of their deaths (based on Senate Seniority rules for the first time they took Senate office, later non consecutive Senate terms will not diminish this). In order to keep in touch with current events, there are lists of the top 20 or so current oldest living and most senior senators. The current earliest living U.S. senator is Clifford Hansen. The current most senior living senator (sitting or former) is Robert Byrd.
#1 Oldest Senators (Historic)
Begin Date |
End Date |
Senator |
State |
Birth Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
March 4, 1789 |
November 14, 1819 |
William Johnson |
Connecticut |
October 7, 1727 |
November 14, 1819 |
June 1, 1832 |
Thomas Sumter |
South Carolina |
August 14, 1734 |
June 1, 1832 |
November 14, 1832 |
Charles Carroll |
Maryland |
September 19, 1737 |
November 14, 1832 |
March 7, 1838 |
Paine Wingate |
New Hampshire |
May 14, 1739 |
March 7, 1838 |
April 22, 1839 |
Samuel Smith |
Maryland |
July 27, 1752 |
April 22, 1839 |
February 13, 1843 |
Nathaniel Chipman |
Vermont |
November 15, 1752 |
February 13, 1843 |
February 25, 1845 |
Asher Robbins |
Rhode Island |
October 26, 1757 |
February 25, 1845 |
December 22, 1850 |
William Plumer |
New Hampshire |
June 25, 1759 |
December 22, 1850 |
April 12, 1851 |
David Daggett |
Connecticut |
December 31, 1764 |
April 12, 1851 |
October 14, 1853 |
Elisha Mathewson |
Rhode Island |
April 18, 1767 |
October 14, 1853 |
November 19, 1853 |
Samuel Crafts |
Vermont |
October 6, 1768 |
November 19, 1853 |
July 24, 1854 |
Jonathan Roberts |
Pennsylvania |
August 16, 1771 |
July 24, 1854 |
April 20, 1857 |
Benjamin Tappan |
Ohio |
May 25, 1773 |
April 20, 1857 |
May 6, 1860 |
Littleton Tazewell |
Virginia |
December 17, 1774 |
May 6, 1860 |
June 23, 1865 |
William Wilkins |
Pennsylvania |
December 20, 1779 |
June 23, 1865 |
June 19, 1867 |
Henry Dodge |
Wisconsin |
October 12, 1782 |
June 19, 1867 |
December 28, 1870 |
Wilson Lumpkin |
Georgia |
January 14, 1783 |
December 28, 1870 |
June 20, 1874 |
John Ruggles |
Maine |
October 8, 1789 |
June 20, 1874 |
July 3, 1878 |
Daniel Sturgeon |
Pennsylvania |
October 27, 1789 |
July 3, 1878 |
September 16, 1887 |
Joseph Cilley |
New Hampshire |
January 4, 1791 |
September 16, 1887 |
June 26, 1889 |
Simon Cameron |
Pennsylvania |
March 8, 1799 |
June 26, 1889 |
April 4, 1893 |
David Meriwether |
Kentucky |
October 30, 1800 |
April 4, 1893 |
January 6, 1901 |
James Bradbury |
Maine |
June 10, 1802 |
January 6, 1901 |
October 7, 1906 |
Daniel Jewett |
Missouri |
September 14, 1807 |
October 7, 1906 |
July 27, 1907 |
Edmund Pettus |
Alabama |
July 6, 1821 |
July 27, 1907 |
January 10, 1909 |
John Conness |
California |
September 22, 1821 |
January 10, 1909 |
November 3, 1924 |
Cornelius Cole |
California |
September 17, 1822 |
November 3, 1924 |
April 5, 1928 |
Chauncey Depew |
New York |
April 23, 1834 |
April 5, 1928 |
January 24, 1930 |
Rebecca Felton |
Georgia |
June 10, 1835 |
January 24, 1930 |
April 12, 1933 |
Adelbert Ames |
Mississippi |
October 31, 1835 |
April 12, 1933 |
February 7, 1937 |
Elihu Root |
New York |
February 15, 1845 |
February 7, 1937 |
January 26, 1938 |
Newell Sanders |
Tennessee |
July 12, 1850 |
January 26, 1938 |
July 24, 1938 |
Obadiah Gardner |
Maine |
September 13, 1852 |
July 24, 1938 |
April 30, 1940 |
Furnifold Simmons |
North Carolina |
January 20, 1854 |
April 30, 1940 |
April 21, 1941 |
Fountain Thompson |
North DAKOTA |
November 18, 1854 |
April 21, 1941 |
June 26, 1941 |
Andrew Houston |
Texas |
June 21, 1854 |
June 26, 1941 |
February 4, 1942 |
Fountain Thompson |
North Dakota |
November 18, 1854 |
February 4, 1942 |
July 19, 1947 |
Robert Owen |
Oklahoma |
February 2, 1856 |
July 19, 1947 |
July 27, 1954 |
Joseph Ransdell |
Louisiana |
October 7, 1858 |
July 27, 1954 |
March 1, 1958 |
Lawrence Phipps |
Colorado |
August 30, 1862 |
March 1, 1958 |
March 3, 1961 |
Joseph Grundy |
Pennsylvania |
January 13, 1863 |
March 3, 1961 |
May 24, 1961 |
George Pepper |
Pennsylvania |
March 16, 1867 |
May 24, 1961 |
May 19, 1966 |
Theodore Green |
Rhode Island |
October 2, 1867 |
May 19, 1966 |
December 28, 1972 |
John Heiskell |
Arkansas |
November 2, 1872 |
December 28, 1972 |
July 29, 1974 |
George Radcliffe |
Iowa |
August 22, 1877 |
July 29, 1974 |
April 14, 1977 |
John Milton |
New Jersey |
January 21, 1881 |
April 14, 1977 |
May 15, 1983 |
Hall Lusk |
Oregon |
September 21, 1883 |
May 15, 1983 |
December 1, 1984 |
Stephen Young |
Ohio |
May 4, 1889 |
December 1, 1984 |
March 20, 1988 |
Samuel Reynolds |
Nebraska |
August 11, 1890 |
March 20, 1988 |
March 14, 1989 |
Gladys Pyle |
Nebraska |
October 4, 1890 |
March 14, 1989 |
September 23, 1992 |
Frank Briggs |
Missouri |
February 25, 1894 |
September 23, 1992 |
June 10, 1993 |
Milward Simpson |
Wyoming |
November 12, 1897 |
June 10, 1993 |
May 29, 1995 |
Margaret Smith |
Maine |
December 14, 1897 |
May 29, 1995 |
May 8, 1998 |
Jennings Randolph |
West Virginia |
March 8, 1902 |
May 8, 1998 |
June 26, 2003 |
Strom Thurmond |
South Carolina |
December 5, 1902 |
June 26, 2003 |
August 18, 2004 |
Hiram Fong |
Hawaii |
October 15, 1906 |
August 18, 2004 |
present |
Clifford Hansen |
Wyoming |
October 16, 1912 |
Current Oldest Living U.S. Senators
- Clifford Hansen — born October 16, 1912
- Harry F. Byrd, Jr. — born December 20, 1914
- William B. Saxbe — born June 24, 1916
- Howard Metzenbaum — born June 4, 1917
- Robert Byrd — born November 20, 1917
- Claiborne Pell — born November 22, 1918
- Charles H. Percy — born September 27, 1919
- Edward Brooke — born October 26, 1919
- James B. Pearson — born May 7, 1920
- John Glenn — born July 18, 1921
- Henry Bellmon — born September 3, 1921
- Jesse Helms — born October 18, 1921
- Ernest Hollings — born January 1, 1922
- Jocelyn Burdick — born February 6, 1922
- Mark Hatfield — born July 12, 1922
- George McGovern — born July 19, 1922
- Charles Mathias, Jr. — born July 24, 1922
- Paul Laxalt — born August 2, 1922
- Bob Dole — born July 22, 1923
- Robert P. Griffin — born November 6, 1923
- Ted Stevens — born November 18, 1923
- Frank Lautenberg - born January 23 1924
- William Dodd Hathaway - born February 21 1924
- Jeremiah Denton - born July 15 1924
- John Melcher - born September 6 1924
- Daniel Inouye - born September 7 1924
- Wendell H. Ford - born September 8 1924
- Daniel Akaka - born September 11 1924
- James A. McClure - born December 27 1924
- Dale Bumpers - born August 12 1925
#1 Most Senior Senators (Sitting or Former) (Historic)
Begin Date |
End Date |
Senator |
State |
1st Seniority Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
March 4, 1789 |
November 14, 1832 |
A tie between Paine Wingate, Charles Carroll, and the other 24 |
March 4, 1789 |
|
November 14, 1832 |
March 7, 1838 |
Paine Wingate |
New Hampshire |
March 4, 1789 |
March 7, 1838 |
February 23, 1840 |
John Rutherfurd |
New Jersey |
March 4, 1791 |
February 23, 1840 |
August 12, 1849 |
Albert Gallatin |
Pennsylvania |
December 2, 1793 |
August 12, 1849 |
December 22, 1850 |
William Plumer |
New Hampshire |
June 17, 1802 |
December 22, 1850 |
June 29, 1852 |
Henry Clay |
Kentucky |
November 19, 1806 |
June 29, 1852 |
October 14, 1853 |
Elisha Mathewson |
Rhode Island |
October 26, 1807 |
October 14, 1853 |
November 5, 1857 |
Alexander Campbell |
Ohio |
December 11, 1809 |
November 5, 1857 |
April 14, 1859 |
George M. Bibb |
Kentucky |
March 4, 1811 |
April 14, 1859 |
July 26, 1863 |
John J. Crittenden |
Kentucky |
March 4, 1817 |
July 26, 1863 |
September 4, 1864 |
Henry Johnson |
Louisiana |
January 12, 1818 |
September 4, 1864 |
December 14, 1868 |
Walter Lowrie |
Pennsylvania |
March 4, 1819 |
December 14, 1868 |
October 13, 1880 |
Peleg Sprague |
Massachusetts |
March 4, 1829 |
October 13, 1880 |
March 19, 1888 |
John P. King |
Georgia |
November 21, 1833 |
March 19, 1888 |
May 11, 1889 |
Henry A. Foster |
New York |
November 30, 1844 |
May 11, 1889 |
June 26, 1889 |
Simon Cameron |
Pennsylvania |
March 13, 1845 |
June 26, 1889 |
June 13, 1896 |
Alpheus Felch |
Michigan |
March 4, 1847 |
June 13, 1896 |
January 6, 1901 |
James Bradbury |
Maine |
March 4, 1847 |
January 6, 1901 |
April 12, 1913 |
John B. Henderson |
Missouri |
January 17, 1862 |
April 12, 1913 |
September 11, 1915 |
William Sprague |
Rhode Island |
March 4, 1863 |
September 11, 1915 |
February 27, 1919 |
George Edmunds |
Vermont |
April 3, 1866 |
February 27, 1919 |
November 3, 1924 |
Cornelius Cole |
California |
March 4, 1867 |
November 3, 1924 |
April 12, 1933 |
Adelbert Ames |
Mississippi |
February 23, 1870 |
April 12, 1933 |
November 16, 1933 |
Henry C. Hansbrough |
North Dakota |
March 4, 1891 |
November 16, 1933 |
November 18, 1934 |
Lee Mantle |
Montana |
January 16, 1895 |
November 18, 1934 |
June 3, 1938 |
Marion Butler |
North Carolina |
March 4, 1895 |
June 3, 1938 |
October 21, 1938 |
Henry Heitfeld |
Idaho |
March 4, 1897 |
October 21, 1938 |
April 30, 1940 |
Furnifold Simmons |
North Carolina |
March 4, 1901 |
April 30, 1940 |
February 9, 1941 |
Reed Smoot |
Utah |
March 4, 1903 |
February 9, 1941 |
March 13, 1945 |
Charles W. F. [...] |
Ohio |
March 23, 1904 |
March 13, 1945 |
January 5, 1960 |
Norris Brown |
Nebraska |
March 4, 1907 |
January 5, 1960 |
May 31, 1962 |
Henry F. Ashurst |
Arizona |
March 27, 1912 |
January 5, 1960 |
December 28, 1972 |
John Heiskell |
Arkansas |
January 6, 1913 |
December 28, 1972 |
January 14, 1978 |
Clarence Dill |
Washington |
March 4, 1923 |
January 14, 1978 |
August 16, 1979 |
F. Ryan Duffy |
Wisconsin |
March 4, 1933 |
August 16, 1979 |
March 13, 1985 |
Elmer Austin Benson |
Minnesota |
December 27, 1935 |
March 13, 1985 |
May 30, 1989 |
Claude Pepper |
Florida |
November 4, 1936 |
May 30, 1989 |
September 22, 1990 |
John A. Danaher |
Connecticut |
January 3, 1939 |
September 22, 1990 |
June 15, 1991 |
Happy Chandler |
Kentucky |
October 10, 1939 |
June 15, 1991 |
December 18, 1993 |
Joseph H. Ball |
Minnesota |
October 14, 1940 |
December 18, 1993 |
January 21, 1999 |
Berkeley L. Bunker |
Nevada |
November 27, 1940 |
January 21, 1999 |
May 9, 2003 |
Russell B. Long |
Louisiana |
December 31, 1948 |
May 9, 2003 |
January 20, 2007 |
George Smathers |
Florida |
January 3, 1951 |
January 20, 2007 |
Present |
Robert Byrd |
West Virginia |
January 3, 1959 |
Current Most Senior Living U.S. Senators (Sitting or Former)
- Robert Byrd — 1st Seniority January 3, 1959
- Claiborne Pell — 1st Seniority January 3, 1961
- James B. Pearson — 1st Seniority January 31, 1962
- Ted Kennedy — 1st Seniority November 7, 1962
- George McGovern — 1st Seniority January 3, 1963 (senior to Daniel Inouye based on length of service as a Representative)
- Daniel Inouye- 1st Seniority January 3, 1963 (senior to Birch Bayh because he was previously a Representative)
- Birch Bayh — 1st Seniority January 3, 1963
- Fred R. Harris — 1st Seniority November 4, 1964
- Walter Mondale — 1st Seniority December 30, 1964
- Joseph Tydings — 1st Seniority January 3, 1965
- Harry F. Byrd, Jr. — 1st Seniority November 12, 1965
- Robert P. Griffin — 1st Seniority May 11, 1966
- Ernest Hollings — 1st Seniority November 9, 1966
- Clifford Hansen — 1st Seniority January 3, 1967 (senior to Charles Percy because he was previously a Governor)
- Charles H. Percy — 1st Seniority January 3, 1967 (senior to Edward Brooke based on state population)
- Edward Brooke — 1st Seniority January 3, 1967 (senior to Howard Baker based on state population)
- Howard Baker — 1st Seniority January 3, 1967
- Mark Hatfield — 1st Seniority January 10, 1967
- Marlow Cook — 1st Seniority December 17, 1968
- Ted Stevens — 1st Seniority December 24, 1968
See also
- List of oldest Surviving members of the House of Representatives
- Oldest living United States president
- Oldest living United States governor
- Dean of the United States Senate
- Earliest serving United States governor
- List of United States Congressmen by longevity of service