No. Until 1947 the age limit was 45. This was followed by a period with no upper limit ending in 1959 when FAA limit became 60, followed by ICAO in 1963. It’s only quite briefly ever been “same as everybody else”
Finally, the parting claim about being “continuously fought” gives an entirely false impression of unanimity. It can scarcely be argued that those wanting the limit raised weren’t a “self-interested group”