British World War One veteran Henry Allingham is the world's oldest man at 113 following the death of the previous holder¹ of the title, Japan's Tomoji Tanabe, Guinness World Records said on Friday.

"Henry Allingham is now officially the oldest man in the world," said a spokeswoman for the organization widely recognized as the authority on record-breakers.

Tanabe, who ate mostly vegetables and believed the key to his longevity² was not drinking alcohol, died on Friday aged³ 113 and had held the record for the oldest living male since January, 2007.

Allingham was born in London on June 6, 1896, and took the British title on January 19, 2007 aged 110 years 227 days, Guinness World Records said in a statement.

"We're pleased to see an English man take the world record -- the last time someone from England held the title was Frederick Butterfield, who died on March 9, 1974, aged 110," said Craig Glenday, Editor-in-Chief of Guinness World Records.

Allingham is one of only two surviving World War One veterans in the United Kingdom and the last surviving founder⁴ member of the Royal Air Force, according to British media.

Allingham's life has spanned three centuries and six monarchs⁵, starting with Queen Victoria. He has five grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, 14 great-great grandchildren and one great-great-great grandchild.

Guinness World Records said the oldest living person is American Gertrude Baines, 115, who was born on April 6, 1894.

吉尼斯世界纪录于上周五确认，之前纪录保持者日本人田锅友时去世之后，现年113岁的英国一战老兵亨利•阿林厄姆成为全世界最长寿男性。

吉尼斯世界纪录的一位发言人说：“亨利•阿林厄姆已正式成为全世界最长寿的男性。”吉尼斯世界纪录是公认的世界纪录权威组织。

几乎只吃蔬菜的田锅友时认为自己长寿的秘诀是滴酒不沾。他于上周五去世，享年113岁。自从2007年1月开始，他就保持着世界最长寿男性的纪录。

吉尼斯世界纪录在一份声明中称，阿林厄姆于1896年6月6日出生于伦敦，并于2007年1月19日成为该项吉尼斯世界纪录在英国的保持者，当时他已年届110岁零227天高龄。

《吉尼斯世界纪录》总编辑克雷格·格伦迪说：“很高兴能有英国人打破这项世界纪录，上一位保持这项纪录的英国人是弗雷德里克•巴特菲尔德，他在1974年3月9日去世，当时110岁。”

据英国媒体报道，阿林厄姆是英国仅存的两位至今仍健在的一战老兵之一，还是英国空军唯一一位健在的创办成员。

阿林厄姆的人生跨越了3个世纪，从时任维多利亚女王至今英国已经更换了6位君主。他有5个孙辈，12个曾孙，14个玄孙，还有一位第6代小孙子。

吉尼斯世界纪录称，目前世界最长寿的人是115岁高龄的美国人格特鲁德·贝恩斯，生于1894年4月6日。

 Vocabulary:

longevity：the length or duration of life（长寿）