Born: 26 December 1893 · Died: 9 September 1976 · Age: 82
Communist revolutionary who founded the People's Republic of China in 1949 and launched the Great Leap Forward and Cultural Revolution
Did you know?He was a prolific poet throughout his life, frequently using traditional Chinese styles to express his political and philosophical thoughts.
Quick facts
Date of birth26 December 1893
Date of death9 September 1976
Age at death82
Cause of deathCardiovascular disease
NationalityChinese
BirthplaceShaoshan, People's Republic of China
Occupationpolitician, poet, writer
Editor's Take:
Mao is one of the most consequential and controversial leaders of the twentieth century. After decades of civil war, including the legendary Long March, his Communist forces took control of mainland China in 1949. He presided over a country of hundreds of millions, attempting to transform it rapidly into an industrial socialist state. His policies, especially the Great Leap Forward of the late 1950s and the later Cultural Revolution, caused immense suffering and tens of millions of deaths. In China he is still officially honoured as the nation's founder, and his portrait hangs over Tiananmen Gate in Beijing.
Key Milestones
1921: Attends the founding congress of the Chinese Communist Party
1934: Joins the Long March
1949: Proclaims the People's Republic of China
1958: Launches the Great Leap Forward
1966: Launches the Cultural Revolution
1972: Hosts Richard Nixon in Beijing
Mao Zedong (26 December 1893 – 9 September 1976) was a Chinese revolutionary, political theorist, and dictator who founded the People's Republic of China (PRC) and served as its paramount leader from 1949 until his death in 1976 primarily through his role as the Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Mao Zedong's birthday is December 26. He was born on December 26, 1893 in Shaoshan, People's Republic of China.
How old was Mao Zedong when he died?
Mao Zedong died on September 9, 1976, aged 82.
Who shares a birthday with Mao Zedong?
Famous people who share Mao Zedong's December 26 birthday include Charles Babbage, Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, Henry Miller, Jared Leto and Hugo Lloris.
