Literature · Politics · Philosophy · 1740–1814

Marquis de Sade — Age, Birthday & Biography

Born: 2 June 1740 · Died: 2 December 1814 · Age: 74

French aristocrat and writer whose scandalous, violent novels such as Justine made his name the root of the word sadism

Did you know?He spent around 30 years of his life in various prisons and insane asylums, where he wrote many of his books.

Quick facts

  • Date of birth2 June 1740
  • Date of death2 December 1814
  • Age at death74
  • Cause of deathInfectious disease
  • NationalityFrench
  • BirthplaceParis, France
  • Occupationnovelist, philosopher, playwright

Editor's Take:

The Marquis de Sade spent much of his life in prison and gave his name to sadism. He was born into one of France's oldest noble families and served as a cavalry officer in the Seven Years' War. Scandals over his treatment of servants and prostitutes led to repeated arrests. A sentence of death for poisoning and sodomy was later overturned, but he was held for years in Vincennes and the Bastille. In prison he wrote The 120 Days of Sodom on a long roll of paper. Freed during the Revolution, he briefly served as a radical official. Under Napoleon he was locked up again and died in the asylum at Charenton. His violent, philosophical writings were banned for over a century and later studied by surrealists and philosophers.

Key Milestones

  1. 1778: Imprisoned at Vincennes
  2. 1785: Writes The 120 Days of Sodom in the Bastille
  3. 1791: Publishes Justine
  4. 1803: Confined at the Charenton asylum

Donatien Alphonse François, Marquis de Sade ( SA(H)D; French:; 2 June 1740 – 2 December 1814) was a French writer, libertine, political activist, and nobleman best known for his libertine novels and imprisonment for sex crimes, blasphemy, and pornography.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

Profile

Marquis de Sade: The Writer Behind 'Sadism'

French aristocrat and writer, born 1740

The Marquis de Sade was born in Paris on 2 June 1740.

He wrote The 120 Days of Sodom in the Bastille in 1785.

He was confined at Charenton asylum from 1803.

He died there on 2 December 1814.

Career highlights

  1. 1763Marriage: to Renée-Pélagie
  2. 1778Vincennes: imprisoned
  3. 1785The 120 Days of Sodom: written in the Bastille
  4. 1791Justine: published
  5. 1803Charenton: final confinement

Did you know?The word 'sadism' comes from his name.

Age at death
74
Years since death
211

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Frequently asked questions

When is Marquis de Sade's birthday?
Marquis de Sade's birthday is June 2. He was born on June 2, 1740 in Paris, France.
How old was Marquis de Sade when he died?
Marquis de Sade died on December 2, 1814, aged 74.
Who shares a birthday with Marquis de Sade?
Famous people who share Marquis de Sade's June 2 birthday include Pius X, Thomas Hardy, Karl Adolph Gjellerup, Sergio Agüero and Leo XI.

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Reviewed by the Who Shares My Birthday editorial team.

Last reviewed: October 2026