Captain Tom Moore
A centenarian war veteran who lifted a nation's spirits during lockdown by walking laps in his garden, raising millions for health workers.
1920–2021 (age 101)·British Army officer and fundraiser·Birthday: April 30·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Captain Tom Moore lived a full, quiet life—a World War II veteran, businessman, and motorcycle enthusiast—before becoming a global symbol of hope at age 99. As the first COVID-19 lockdown gripped the UK in spring 2020, he set a simple goal: to walk 100 lengths of his garden before his 100th birthday to raise money for the National Health Service. His determination, embodied in his slow, steady progress with a walking frame, captured the public's heart. The fundraiser, initially hoping for £1,000, exploded into a phenomenon, eventually gathering nearly £33 million. Knighted by the Queen, his humble effort provided a unifying point of light and generosity during a period of profound anxiety, proving the extraordinary power of an ordinary act of kindness.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Captain was born in 1920, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Captain Was Born
The biggest hits of 1920
#1 Movie
Way Down East
Captain's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1920Born
Women gain the right to vote in the US
Home: $3,395President: Woodrow Wilson"Swanee" — Al Jolson
1925Started school
The Scopes Trial debates evolution in schools
Home: $4,366President: Calvin Coolidge"Sweet Georgia Brown" — Ben Bernie
1933Became a teenager
FDR's New Deal launches; Prohibition ends
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stormy Weather" — Ethel WatersBest Picture: Cavalcade
1936Could drive
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1938Could vote
Kristallnacht and the escalation toward WWII
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $2,850Min wage: $0.25/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Begin the Beguine" — Artie ShawBest Picture: You Can't Take It with You
1941Turned 21
Pearl Harbor attack brings the US into WWII
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,060Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Chattanooga Choo Choo" — Glenn MillerBest Picture: How Green Was My Valley
1950Turned 30
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1960Turned 40
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1970Turned 50
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1980Turned 60
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1990Turned 70
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
2000Turned 80
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2021Died at 101
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
Key Achievements
- Raised over £32 million for NHS Charities Together by walking laps of his garden ahead of his 100th birthday in April 2020.
- Was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in a unique outdoor ceremony at Windsor Castle in July 2020.
- Achieved a UK number-one single with a charity recording of "You'll Never Walk Alone" with Michael Ball.
Did You Know?
He served in the Burma campaign during World War II as a captain in the Duke of Wellington's Regiment.
After the war, he worked as the managing director of a concrete manufacturing company.
He was a competitive motorcycle racer in his younger years.
He wrote an autobiography, 'Tomorrow Will Be A Good Day,' which became a bestseller when he was 100.
“Please always remember, tomorrow will be a good day.”
