Record Holders
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Samuel Taliaferro Rayburn, Collection of the U.S. House of Representatives About this object The longest serving Speaker of the House, Sam Rayburn of Texas, also chaired one committee in his House career: Interstate and Foreign Commerce.
- Longest-serving Representative to serve in the House:
With more than 53 years of service, Representative John Dingell, Jr.of Michigan, a current Member.
Longest-serving Speaker of the House:
Sam Rayburn of Texas served as Speaker for a total of 17 years, two months, and two days.
Oldest person recorded to have served in the House:
Born in 1923, Representative Ralph Hall of Texas, a current Member, is the oldest person to have served in the House. Prior to 2012, Representative Charles Manly Stedman of North Carolina, who died in office on September 23, 1930, at the age of 89 years, 7 months, and 25 days held the designation.
Youngest person ever to be elected to the House:
Representative William Charles Cole Claiborne of Tennessee, elected to the 5th Congress (1797–1799) at the age of 22.