Katherine Plunket

Catherine Plunket (County Louth, Ireland, November 22, 1820 - Ib., October 14, 1932)  was an Irish illustrator, aristocrat and supercentenarian.

 Biography 
She was the eldest of six siblings, all of whom she outlived. Her parents were Thomas Plunket (1792-1866) and Louisa Jane Foster (1804-1893).  She was baptized on 13 December 1820 as Catherine Plunket, although she spelled her name with a K throughout her life.  It is registered in the 1821 census. 

She inherited Ballymascanlon House, near Dundalk, from her maternal family, where she lived until the end of his life.  Currently the house is a hotel. 

She and her sister Frederica created about 1,200 flower pictures while traveling around Europe in countries such as France, Italy, Spain, and Germany. In 1903 they gave these pictures to the Royal College of Science for Ireland. The collection was later moved to the National Museum of Ireland, and in 1970 it was moved again to the National Botanic Gardens of Ireland. 

Plunket said she lived so long because her life was calm and without worries. She stayed healthy and clear minded almost all her life, except for a case of bronchitis when she was 102. Even after turning 100, she still looked after her home and money matters herself.  

 References 

Category:Supercentenarians