Today, Jimmy Carter, the 39th U.S. president, former Georgia governor, peanut farmer, and a man of deep faith and commitment to humanitarian work, became the first president to live to 100 years of age.
Born in the small town of Plains, Georgia, on October 1, 1924, Carter’s life has been defined by service—to his country, to his faith, and to causes around the world.
A son of a farmer and a nurse, Carter grew up with three siblings—two sisters and a brother.
His White House biography says that “peanut farming, talk of politics, and devotion to the Baptist faith were mainstays of his upbringing.”
After graduating from high school, Carter entered the U.S. Naval Academy in 1943.
Upon his graduation in 1946, he married his lifelong partner, Rosalynn Smith, who he was married to for 77 years until her death last November.
He served for seven years in the U.S. Navy before returning to Georgia in 1953 to take over the family peanut farm following his father’s death.
It wasn’t long before Carter turned to politics, first winning a seat in the Georgia State Senate in the early 1960s, and then the governorship in 1971.
His rise on the national stage came in 1976 when he became the Democratic Party‘s presidential nominee.
Carter went on to defeat incumbent President Gerald Ford, taking office as the 39th president of the United States in January 1977.
During his presidency, Carter became known as a strong advocate for human rights.
His administration oversaw landmark achievements in international diplomacy, including the historic 1978 Camp David Accords, which paved the way for peace between Egypt and Israel, and the formal establishment of diplomatic relations with China.
His presidency was also marked by the U.S. embassy hostage crisis in Iran, a pivotal moment that shaped his final year in office.
On the domestic front, Carter faced significant economic challenges, battling high inflation and unemployment.
His efforts to reduce inflation, while ultimately successful in stabilizing the economy, contributed to a brief recession.
By the end of his term, however, his administration had seen the creation of nearly 8 million jobs and a reduction in the federal budget deficit as a percentage of GDP.
Carter’s presidency came to an end in 1981 after he lost to Republican Ronald Reagan in a landslide election.
Yet, in his post-presidential years, he emerged as a global humanitarian, dedicating himself to charity work, diplomacy, and writing.
His involvement with Habitat for Humanity, building homes for those in need, became one of his most visible and enduring legacies.
In addition to his charitable work, Carter played a critical role in diplomatic efforts abroad, most notably negotiating with North Korea on behalf of the Clinton administration in the 1990s.
He has remained an active and sometimes outspoken voice on the world stage, offering candid critiques of both Republican and Democratic presidents.
He criticized George W. Bush‘s handling of the Iraq War and Barack Obama for his use of drone strikes, among other issues.
As he marks his 100th birthday, Carter continues to be surrounded by the love of his family, including, his four children, and nearly two dozen grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Here is Jimmy Carter’s life so far in pictures.
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Jimmy Carter as a young boy. CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images
