The age of eminent leaders: then and now.

Abstract

This study reveals that certain types of present-day leaders-legislative, judicial, diplomatic, military, naval, religious, and educational-are significantly older than were their predecessors who held the same nominal positions. The recent leaders also exhibit less age variability today than formerly, both in the United States and in certain other countries. Thus, for each of the following groups of non-American leaders, the more recently born 50 per cent are found to have functioned at somewhat older mean ages than the earlier born 50 per cent: the prime ministers of England, the archibishops of Canterbury, the popes of the Roman Catholic church, and hereditary rulers all over the world.