Lived 3 Centuries: The 119-Year-Old Woman Who Never Let Anything Upset Her Born in 1880, Sarah Knauss lived an astonishing life that spanned three centuries, making her a living bridge to the 19th century. She passed away in December 1999 at the age of 119, just days before the new millennium. At the time of this photo, she was the oldest living person in the world. Her life encompassed major historical milestones, including seven U.S. wars, the invention of the airplane, and the dawn of the int