Born: 2 April 1805 · Died: 4 August 1875 · Age at death: 70
How old was Hans Christian Andersen when he died?
Hans Christian Andersen died aged 70. He was born on 2 April 1805 and died on 4 August 1875.
Danish author of fairy tales including The Little Mermaid, The Ugly Duckling and The Snow Queen
Did you know?He had a long-standing fear of being buried alive and often left a note by his bed stating he was only sleeping.
Quick facts
Date of birth2 April 1805
Date of death4 August 1875
Age at death70
Cause of deathLiver cancer
NationalityDanish
BirthplaceOdense, Denmark
Occupationpoet, novelist, children's writer
Editor's Take:
Andersen's fairy tales feel timeless, yet many of them were entirely his own inventions rather than old folk stories. The Little Mermaid, The Ugly Duckling, The Snow Queen and The Emperor's New Clothes have been retold in films, ballets and picture books around the world. He grew up poor in Odense, and his tales often feature outsiders who are mocked before finding their true worth. Beneath their charm, many have bittersweet or melancholy endings that adults appreciate as much as children. Disney's Frozen and The Little Mermaid both trace their roots back to his pen.
Key Milestones
1819: Moves to Copenhagen at 14
1835: Publishes his first fairy tales
1837: Publishes The Little Mermaid
1843: Publishes The Ugly Duckling
1844: Publishes The Snow Queen
1847: Visits Charles Dickens in England
Hans Christian Andersen ( AN-dər-sən; Danish:; 2 April 1805 – 4 August 1875) was a Danish writer. A prolific writer of plays, travelogues, novels, and poems, he is also best remembered for his literary fairy tales.
Hans Christian Andersen's birthday is April 2. He was born on April 2, 1805 in Odense, Denmark.
How old was Hans Christian Andersen when he died?
Hans Christian Andersen died on August 4, 1875, aged 70.
Who shares a birthday with Hans Christian Andersen?
Famous people who share Hans Christian Andersen's April 2 birthday include Thomas Jefferson, Charlemagne, Émile Zola, Giacomo Casanova and Alec Guinness.
