On this day 47 years ago, Jimmy Carter became President of the United States

ATLANTA — It’s been nearly five decades since former President Jimmy Carter won the 1976 election and became the 39th President of the United States.

The Democratic former Governor of Georgia beat out the incumbent President Gerald Ford by an electoral vote of 297 to 240.

In the popular vote, Carter narrowly edged out Ford by about 1.7 million votes, earning him the support of 50.1% of voters.

[PHOTOS: Jimmy Carter through the years]

Carter and his running mate, then-Senator Walter Mondale, won the electoral votes of most of the Southern U.S., including his home state of Georgia, where he took home more than 60% of the votes.

Ford never won a presidential race and had only been president for about two years at the time of the election. As vice president, he became president when former President Richard Nixon resigned in 1974.

Former President Carter, who is now 99, has spent the last 47 years as a diplomat, humanitarian, author and more.

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Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter got married in 1946, soon after graduating from high school. They had four children: Jack Carter, born in 1947; James Carter, born in 1950; Donnel Carter, born in 1952; and Amy Carter, born in 1967.

Earlier this year, the former president entered hospice care. Three months after the announcement, the Carter Center said Rosalynn Carter had been diagnosed with dementia.

His family has since said that “we’re in the final chapter.”

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Carters 75th Anniversary Party Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary with family, friends and special guests Saturday July 10, 2021 in Plains, Georgia. (The Carter Center)

Carters celebrate 75th wedding anniversary (AP Images)

Carters Anniversary Amy Carter, left, rises her glass during a toast to her parents former President Jimmy Carter and former first lady Rosalynn Carter during a reception to celebrate their 75th wedding anniversary Saturday, July 10, 2021, in Plains, Ga.. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, Pool) (John Bazemore)

Carters Anniversary Former Sen. Sam Nunn, D-Ga., arrives for a reception to celebrate the 75th wedding anniversary of former President Jimmy Carter and former first lady Rosalynn Carter 75th wedding anniversary Saturday, July 10, 2021, in Plains, Ga.. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, Pool) (John Bazemore)

Carters Anniversary Former President Jimmy Carter sips champagne as his wife former first lady Rosalynn Carter speaks during a reception to celebrate their 75th wedding anniversary Saturday, July 10, 2021, in Plains, Ga.. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, Pool) (John Bazemore)

Carters Anniversary Amy Carter arrives for a reception to celebrate the 75th wedding anniversary of her parents former President Jimmy Carter and former first lady Rosalynn Carter Saturday, July 10, 2021, in Plains, Ga.. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, Pool) (John Bazemore)