Celebrate the Achievements of Significant Older Americans in History

With the United States celebrating 250 years of independence, AARP looks back on Americans who accomplished great things when they were over 50 and, in doing so, helped shape the country. And it starts, fittingly, with the American Revolution.

Rebecca Brannon, a history professor at James Madison University, writes about the impact of older people on that world-changing event in her upcoming book A Rebel’s Guide to Getting Old. She stresses that recognizing and remembering elder achievements is particularly important in a society that often seems to value youth. “That’s always been the dilemma,” she says. “How do we listen to the values of our elders, while still being a forward-looking society?” But to Brannon, age brings wisdom gained through experience that would be foolish to overlook.

Here are 14 Americans who made a significant impact in their later years.

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)

The oldest Founding Father, he was key to the United States’ victory over Britain. Starting in 1776, at age 70, he used his diplomatic skills to forge a critical military alliance with France.

Noah Webster (1758–1843)

A teacher, clerk, newspaper editor and lawyer, he wrote a comprehensive American dictionary, which he published at age 70. It promoted uniformity in how Americans spoke and spelled.

Sojourner Truth (1797–1883)

A former enslaved person, she became a leading voice for human rights in her mid-50s after delivering an important speech at the 1851 Women’s Rights Convention in Ohio.

Clara Barton (1821–1912)

In 1881, at age 59, she established the American Association of the Red Cross, one of the country’s most prominent humanitarian organizations and a supplier of blood.

Andrew Carnegie (1835–1919)

He used his fortune to create libraries, universities and foundations. In his 70s, he established the Carnegie Corporation of New York, which supported the discovery of insulin.

Grandma Moses (1860–1961)

Artist Anna Mary Robertson Moses held her first solo show in 1940, at 80. She was 88 when President Harry S. Truman presented her with an award for her work.

Laura Ingalls Wilder (1867–1957)

The author wasn’t published until age 65, with her first Little House novel in 1932. The series went on to sell more than 73 million copies and spawned a hit TV show.

Ynés Mexía (1870–1938)

Mexía’s important work as a botanist began at age 55. In her 13-year career, she collected more than 150,000 plant specimens, including 500 newly discovered species.