Noun
One who precedes; one who has preceded another in any state, position, office, etc.; one whom another follows or comes after, in any office or position.
Source: Webster's dictionaryI tread in the footsteps of illustrious men... in receiving from the people the sacred trust confided to my illustrious predecessor. Martin Van Buren
Every innovation scraps its immediate predecessor and retrieves still older figures – it causes floods of antiques or nostalgic art forms and stimulates the search for museum pieces. Marshall McLuhan
Notwithstanding a mendacious press; notwithstanding a subsidized gang of hirelings who have not ceased to traduce me, I have discharged all my official duties and fulfilled my pledges. And I say here tonight that if my predecessor had lived, the vials of wrath would have poured out upon him. Andrew Johnson
Opulence is always the result of theft, if not committed by the actual possessor, then by his predecessor. Jerome
We will make a great and awful mistake if we fail to settle Hebron, neighbor and predecessor of Jerusalem, with a large Jewish settlement, constantly growing and expanding, very soon. This will also be a blessing to the Arab neighbors. Hebron is worthy to be Jerusalem's sister. David Ben-Gurion
I used to say I never talk about my successor, neither about my predecessor. Boutros Boutros-Ghali