Emiliano Mercado del Toro

Emiliano Mercado del Toro, born on August 21, 1891, was a remarkable Puerto Rican supercentenarian and military veteran. His life spanned over a century, during which he made significant contributions both in the military and the business world. Mercado's longevity became a focal point of his legacy, as he achieved the distinction of being the world's oldest person at the age of one hundred fifteen, following the passing of Elizabeth Bolden on December 11, 2006.

Mercado's journey to becoming the world's oldest man began on November 19, 2004, when he was recognized as such after the death of Fred Harold Hale. His remarkable age of one hundred fifteen years and one hundred fifty-six days at the time of his death on January 24, 2007, positioned him as the second oldest fully validated male in history, just behind Danish-American Christian Mortensen.

At the time of his passing, there was some debate regarding the age of Japanese man Shigechiyo Izumi, who was believed to be older. However, his record was later withdrawn by Guinness World Records in 2010, solidifying Mercado's place in the annals of longevity.