Literature · Philosophy · Scholarship · 1759–1805

Friedrich Schiller — Age, Birthday & Biography

Born: 10 November 1759 · Died: 9 May 1805 · Age at death: 45

How old was Friedrich Schiller when he died?

Friedrich Schiller died aged 45. He was born on 10 November 1759 and died on 9 May 1805.

German poet and playwright of The Robbers and William Tell, whose Ode to Joy was set to music in Beethoven's Ninth Symphony

Did you know?He allegedly kept rotten apples in his desk drawer because he found the smell helped to stimulate his creativity while writing.

Quick facts

  • Date of birth10 November 1759
  • Date of death9 May 1805
  • Age at death45
  • Cause of deathTuberculosis
  • NationalityGerman
  • BirthplaceMarbach am Neckar, Germany
  • Occupationpoet, philosopher, historian

Editor's Take:

Schiller was a poet, playwright and philosopher whose words still ring out across Europe. His Ode to Joy, set to music by Beethoven in his Ninth Symphony, was adopted as the anthem of the European Union. His plays, such as The Robbers, Mary Stuart and William Tell, are full of rebellion and the struggle for freedom. He formed a close friendship and creative partnership with Goethe, and together they made the town of Weimar the centre of German literature. He died young, at 45, but remains one of Germany's most beloved writers.

Key Milestones

  1. 1782: The Robbers premieres in Mannheim
  2. 1785: Writes Ode to Joy
  3. 1794: Begins his friendship with Goethe
  4. 1804: William Tell premieres

Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller (German:, short:; 10 November 1759 – 9 May 1805) was a German playwright, poet, philosopher and historian. Schiller is considered to be one of Germany's most important classical playwrights.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

Profile

Friedrich Schiller: Poet of Ode to Joy

German poet and playwright, born 1759

Friedrich Schiller was born in Marbach am Neckar on 10 November 1759.

He wrote the poem Ode to Joy.

He wrote the plays The Robbers and William Tell.

He was a close friend of Goethe.

Career highlights

  1. 1782The Robbers: premiere
  2. 1785Ode to Joy: written
  3. 1794Goethe: friendship begins
  4. 1800Mary Stuart: premiere
  5. 1804William Tell: premiere

Did you know?Beethoven set his Ode to Joy in the Ninth Symphony.

Age at death
45
Years since death
221

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Frequently asked questions

When is Friedrich Schiller's birthday?
Friedrich Schiller's birthday is November 10. He was born on November 10, 1759 in Marbach am Neckar, Germany.
How old was Friedrich Schiller when he died?
Friedrich Schiller died on May 9, 1805, aged 45.
Who shares a birthday with Friedrich Schiller?
Famous people who share Friedrich Schiller's November 10 birthday include Martin Luther, Paracelsus, Mikhail Kalashnikov, Ennio Morricone and Richard Burton.

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Reviewed by the Who Shares My Birthday editorial team.

Last reviewed: October 2026