Trivia

Oldest person to fly in space at age 77 (member of space shuttle shuttle crew, 29 October 1998 - 7 November 1998).

Holds the world record for longest time between commission as astronaut and last space flight - an almost unbeatable 39 years 6 months 27 days.

Was Ted Williams' "Wingman" during the Korean War.

With Scott Carpenter's death on October 10, 2013, he became the last surviving member of the Mercury Seven. In spite of this, he was the oldest of the seven astronauts.

Astronaut and senator.

Appeared in uniform with ten year old singer and actor Eddie Hodges as a contestant on a very popular Oct 4th 1957 episode of "Name That Tune" (1953) (TV series) after achieving international fame for setting the worlds record for the fastest trans-coastal flight in the USA. He and Hodges were teammates and split the grand prize of 25,000 dollars after successfully appearing on that much beloved episode.

Attended Muskingum College in New Concord, Ohio; the same college which produced actress Agnes Moorehead.

Named his Mercury spacecraft "Friendship 7".

Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama on 29 May 2012.

Attended the Marine Corps Ball held annually in Washington, D.C. as the Guest of Honor. (December 1997)

Was a member of NASA's Mercury 7 project, introduced in April 9, 1959, only six months after the agency was established (together with Wally Schirra, Deke Slayton, Scott Carpenter, Alan Shepard, Gus Grissom, Gordon Cooper).

Inducted into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame in 1993.

Inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame in 1990.

First American to orbit the Earth, 20 February 1962.

US senator from Ohio, January 1975 - January 1999.

Was a member of NASA's Mercury 7 project, introduced in April 9, 1959, only six months after the agency was established (together with Wally Schirra, Deke Slayton, Scott Carpenter, Alan Shepard, Gus Grissom, Gordon Cooper).

His claim to fame/historic title, has been more misidentified than any other astronaut. He has been frequently misidentified as The first man in space, or The first man to orbit, or more often The first American in space; Yuri Gagarin is the first two, Alan Shepard is the last one.

Shared a birthday with Nelson Mandela. Oddly, Largely because of Glenn's highly known orbit of the earth in 1962, there's been a big 'Mandela Effect' on the public with thinking that Glenn was the first man or more commonly first American in space.