Oldest lighthouse keeper

The oldest documented lighthouse keeper was Henry Hall (UK, 1661–1755) who was still on duty at Eddystone Lighthouse – located on a reef some 19 kilometres (12 miles) off Plymouth, Devon, UK – at the age of 94 on 2 December 1755.

Hall’s occupation proved to be deadly. On 2 December 1755, the lantern caught alight. In an attempt to extinguish the fire, Hall tried throwing buckets of water up the tower, during which molten lead from the lantern dropped on top of him – including some into his mouth. Although he and his fellow watchmen were rescued from the burning structure by a boat, Hall died 12 days later – the attending physician, Dr Spry – recovered a 200-g (7-oz) lump of lead in his stomach during the postmortem. The piece of lead is now on display at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, UK.

Prior to the fire, which lasted five days until the lighthouse was totally destroyed, Hall was described to be “of good constitution and active for his years”.

Hall was the first in a long line of lighthouse keepers in his family, with various descendants performing the same job in other British lighthouses up until the early 20th century.

Eddystone Lighthouse has gone through four iterations. The original, made from wood and completed in 1698, was the first lighthouse ever built out at sea; it was destroyed by the Great Storm of 1703. Also made of wood but with a more durable design, the second lighthouse was completed in 1709 and stood until the fire of 1755. The third iteration, designed by John Smeaton and this time made from stone, was first lit in 1759 and was in use until 1882. The final Eddystone Lighthouse was completed in 1882 and remains on the site to this day.