Literature · Law · 1621–1695

Jean de La Fontaine — Age, Birthday & Biography

Born: 8 June 1621 · Died: 13 April 1695 · Age: 73

French poet whose Fables, including The Tortoise and the Hare and The Grasshopper and the Ant, are still learned by schoolchildren

Did you know?His stories were often inspired by ancient writers like Aesop, yet he rewrote them to satirise French society and the royal court.

Quick facts

  • Date of birth8 June 1621
  • Date of death13 April 1695
  • Age at death73
  • NationalityFrench
  • BirthplaceChâteau-Thierry, France
  • Occupationfabulist, poet, lawyer

Editor's Take:

La Fontaine took fables that were already ancient and made them sparkle in French verse. His talking animals, from the grasshopper to the fox, expose human vanity with gentle wit. Each story is short, clever and easy to remember, which is why French children still learn them by heart. Beneath the charm lies sharp observation of the court of Louis XIV. He remains one of France's most quoted poets.

Key Milestones

  1. 1665: Contes – tales
  2. 1668: Fables – first collection
  3. 1678: Fables – second collection
  4. 1684: Académie française – elected

Jean de La Fontaine (UK:, US:; French:; 8 July 1621 – 13 April 1695) was a French fabulist and one of the most widely read French poets of the 17th century.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

Profile

Jean de La Fontaine: The Master of Fables

French poet, 1621–1695

Jean de La Fontaine was born in Château-Thierry in 1621.

He published his Fables from 1668.

They include The Grasshopper and the Ant.

He was elected to the Académie française in 1684.

Career highlights

  1. 1665Contes: tales
  2. 1668Fables: first collection
  3. 1678Fables: second collection
  4. 1684Académie française: elected
  5. 1695Death: in Paris

Did you know?He trained briefly for the priesthood before turning to law and poetry.

Age at death
73
Years since death
331

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When is Jean de La Fontaine's birthday?
Jean de La Fontaine's birthday is June 8. He was born on June 8, 1621 in Château-Thierry, France.
How old was Jean de La Fontaine when he died?
Jean de La Fontaine died on April 13, 1695, aged 73.
Who shares a birthday with Jean de La Fontaine?
Famous people who share Jean de La Fontaine's June 8 birthday include Tim Berners-Lee, Frank Lloyd Wright, Robert Schumann, Suharto and Kanye West.

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Reviewed by the Who Shares My Birthday editorial team.

Last reviewed: October 2026