Born: 1 April 1815 · Died: 30 July 1898 · Age at death: 83
How old was Otto von Bismarck when he died?
Otto von Bismarck died aged 83. He was born on 1 April 1815 and died on 30 July 1898.
Prussian statesman who unified Germany through three wars in 1871 and served as the first chancellor of the German Empire
Did you know?He introduced the first modern welfare state, including national healthcare and pensions, to counter socialist movements.
Quick facts
Date of birth1 April 1815
Date of death30 July 1898
Age at death83
Cause of deathRespiratory arrest
NationalityGerman
BirthplaceSchönhausen (Elbe), Germany
Occupationpolitician, diplomat, jurist
Editor's Take:
Bismarck was a master of power politics who unified Germany through what he called 'blood and iron'. As chief minister of Prussia, he engineered three short wars against Denmark, Austria and France, and in 1871 a new German Empire was proclaimed at Versailles. He then worked to keep the peace in Europe through a complex web of alliances. His style of hard-headed, practical politics became known as Realpolitik. After he was dismissed in 1890, his careful system unravelled, contributing to the tensions that led to the First World War.
Key Milestones
1862: Becomes Prussian minister president
1864: Wins the war with Denmark
1866: Defeats Austria
1871: Proclaims the German Empire at Versailles
1883: Introduces state health insurance
1890: Dismissed by Wilhelm II
Otto Eduard Leopold, Prince of Bismarck, Count of Bismarck-Schönhausen, Duke of Lauenburg (1 April 1815 – 30 July 1898), was a German statesman and diplomat who oversaw the unification of Germany and served as its first chancellor from 1871 to 1890.
Otto von Bismarck's birthday is April 1. He was born on April 1, 1815 in Schönhausen (Elbe), Germany.
How old was Otto von Bismarck when he died?
Otto von Bismarck died on July 30, 1898, aged 83.
Who shares a birthday with Otto von Bismarck?
Famous people who share Otto von Bismarck's April 1 birthday include Wangari Muta Maathai, Toshirō Mifune, Milan Kundera, Abraham Maslow and Ferenc Puskás.
