Jean Thurel
Jean Thurel | |
|---|---|
Jean Thurel, fusilier of the Touraine Regiment at 89 years of age. His three Médaillon Des Deux Épées medals and his Légion d'Honneur medal are visible in this 1788 portrait by Antoine Vestier, which was modified in 1804 to include the Légion d'Honneur. | |
| Nickname | The oldest soldier of Europe |
| Born | 6 September 1699 |
| Died | 10 March 1807 (aged 107) |
| Allegiance | Kingdom of France Kingdom of the French French First Republic First French Empire |
| Branch | Infantry |
| Service years | 17 September 1716 – 29 January 1792 (75 years, 4 months) |
| Rank | Soldat |
| Unit | Touraine Regiment |
| Conflicts | War of the Polish Succession War of the Austrian Succession Seven Years' War American Revolutionary War |
| Awards | Médaillon Des Deux Épées (3) Chevalier de l' Ordre National de la Legion d'Honneur |
Jean Thurel, or Jean Theurel (French pronunciation: [tyʁɛl]; 6 September 1699 – 10 March 1807), was a fusilier of the French Army and a centenarian with an extraordinarily long career that spanned over 75 years of service in the Touraine Regiment. Born in the reign of Louis XIV and dying during that of Napoleon I, Thurel was possibly the last known person born in the 17th century.