Born: 12 January 1729 · Died: 9 July 1797 · Age at death: 68
How old was Edmund Burke when he died?
Edmund Burke died aged 68. He was born on 12 January 1729 and died on 9 July 1797.
Irish-born statesman and writer whose Reflections on the Revolution in France made him the founding thinker of modern conservatism
Did you know?He was a vocal supporter of the American Revolution but became a fierce critic of the French Revolution.
Quick facts
Date of birth12 January 1729
Date of death9 July 1797
Age at death68
NationalityIrish
BirthplaceDublin, Ireland
Occupationpolitician, philosopher, writer
Editor's Take:
Edmund Burke is often called the father of modern conservatism, yet he was no simple defender of power. The Irish-born writer sat in Parliament for almost three decades. He argued that society is a partnership between the dead, the living and the unborn. He warned that tearing down old institutions could unleash chaos. His Reflections on the Revolution in France predicted terror long before it came. He also took the side of the American colonists and led the long impeachment of Warren Hastings over abuses in India. Politicians on both left and right still quote him.
Key Milestones
1757: The Sublime – essay
1765: MP – elected
1775: Conciliation – speech
1787: Hastings – impeachment
Edmund Burke (12 January 1729 – 9 July 1797) was an Anglo-Irish writer, philosopher, and politician who is widely credited as the founder of the cultural and political philosophy of conservatism.