» PHOTOS | Jimmy Carter through the years

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March 22, 2019, marks yet another milestone. While it is not his birthday, Carter becomes the oldest living former president in United States history.

At the age of 94 years and 172 days, he passes George H.W. Bush, who was 94 years, 171 days when he died last November.

“We at the Carter Center sure are rooting for him and are grateful for his long life of service that has benefited millions of the world’s poorest people,” the center said in a statement.

Daria Labinsky, an archivist with of the Carter Presidential Library, said nothing special is planned to mark the event at the library.

George H.W. Bush (1924-2018), seen here in 2016, lived to be 94 years and 171 days. (David J. Phillip/AP file) Credit: David J. Phillip Credit: David J. Phillip

After the country’s first president, George Washington, lived to be 67, only a handful of others have lived into their 90s.

Already, Carter had set for presidential record for living the longest number of years out of office, at 38 plus. But then again, he started the job young. When he was elected in 1976, Carter was only 52-years-old, making him the 17th youngest elected president in history. The median age for accession to the presidency is 55 years and 3 months.

“What could possibly be good about growing old? The most obvious answer, of course, is to consider the alternative to aging,” Carter wrote in 1998. “But there are plenty of other good answers — many based on our personal experiences and observations.”

Gerald Ford (1913-2006), seen here in 2006, lived to be 93 years, 165 days. (Gerald Herbert/AP file) Credit: GERALD HERBERT Credit: GERALD HERBERT

Sure, there have been scares along the way.

In August 2015, Carter revealed that doctors had found four small melanoma lesions on his brain. The discovery followed the removal of a lesion on his liver that took about 10 percent of the organ. He began receiving drug treatments, along with radiation therapy, and said at the time that he would cut back significantly on his schedule.

Ronald Reagan (1911-2004), seen here in 1996, lived to be 93 years, 120 days. (Eric Draper/AP file) Credit: ERIC DRAPER Credit: ERIC DRAPER

He continued receiving treatments until the following February when doctors had told him they were no longer needed, he said.

In 2017, Carter was briefly hospitalized in Winnipeg, Manitoba after he became dehydrated while working on a Habitat for Humanity building site. He remains active.

Many historians consider him one of the greatest former presidents ever — if not the greatest.

John Adams (1735-1826), in this circa 1800 portrait, lived to be 90 years, 247 days. (Library of Congress)

Following his bitter 1980 defeat at the hands of Ronald Reagan — or his “involuntary retirement,” as he calls it, becoming the first full one-term president since Hoover to lose reelection — Carter turned himself into something else.

In 1982, he started the Carter Center in Atlanta to advance human rights and promote democracy. The center mediates conflicts and monitors electoral processes in support of free and fair elections.

Carter traveled the world for elections and worked with the Carter Center to eradicate diseases. His hard work during post-presidential life was recognized in 2002, when he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

‘As we’ve grown older,” Carter wrote of himself and wife Rosalynn, “the results have been surprisingly good.”

Herbert Hoover (1874-1964), seen here in 1928, lived to be 90 years, 71 days. (Library of Congress) Credit: Library of Congress Credit: Library of Congress

Oldest Former United States Presidents

1. Jimmy Carter, born Oct. 1, 1924 (age 94 years, 172 days as of March 21, 2019)

2. George H. W. Bush, 1924–2018. (age 94 years, 171 days)

3. Gerald Ford, 1913–2006. (age 93 years, 165 days)

4. Ronald Reagan, 1911–2004. (age 93 years, 120 days)

5. John Adams, 1735–1826. (age 90 years, 247 days)

6. Herbert Hoover, 1874–1964. (age 90 years, 71 days)