When was Martin Luther King Jr. born: verified date, birthplace, and name at birth

Birth date and birthplace

Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia. This is well documented in birth records, census data, and the official archives of his life. He was named Michael King Jr. at birth and was the second child of Michael King Sr. (later renamed Martin Luther King Sr.) and Alberta Williams King. The family lived in Atlanta’s Sweet Auburn neighborhood, a center of Black intellectual and civic life. Understanding the exact when martin luther king jr was born anchors the timeline of his activism, education, and leadership in the civil rights movement.

Name at birth and later change

From Michael King Jr. to Martin Luther King Jr.

At birth he bore the name Michael King Jr. His father, Michael King Sr., became known as Martin Luther King Sr. after the death of the prominent Reformed theologian Martin Luther in 1546, whom the pastor honored by adopting the name. In 1934, both father and son were renamed Martin Luther. Therefore, while commonly associated with the birthday on January 15, the legal name shift occurred years later and is relevant when confirming historical and official documents tied to the question when martin luther king jr was born.

The fixed national holiday: third Monday in January

How the holiday date is determined

Federal recognition as a holiday occurs on the third Monday in January. This design creates an annual observance that can fall between January 15 and January 21. Because the question when martin luther king jr was born points to January 15, it is useful to contrast the fixed birth date with the moveable holiday. Neither the birth nor the holiday is a floating date; the birth is absolute, while the holiday is scheduled to create a consistent three-day weekend around the observance.

Historical context and verification

Martin Luther King Jr. emerged as a civil rights leader through the Montgomery bus boycott and the founding of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. His speeches, including the I Have a Dream address, are documented in archives and recordings. Scholars rely on primary documents such as birth certificates, church records, and contemporary newspaper accounts to answer when martin luther king jr was born with precision, separating verified data from later myths or public misunderstandings.

Common questions about his birth and timeline

• Was he born on January 15 or January 14?

Official records confirm January 15, 1929, as the birth date.

• Why does the holiday not always fall on his birthday?

The federal holiday uses the third Monday in January, producing a uniform observance while preserving the underlying fixed date of January 15.

• Did his name change affect legal documents?

All legal documents were updated after the 1934 renaming, so both the birth and subsequent records align under the name Martin Luther King Jr.

Why this matters for researchers and readers

Clarifying when martin luther king jr was born supports accurate historical reporting, educational curricula, and public understanding of civil rights history. It anchors discussions about his timeline, legacy, and the mechanisms through which his birthday became a national observance. Reliable sourcing and transparent distinctions between birth facts and holiday scheduling prevent misinformation from taking root.

Summary points

• Birth date: January 15, 1929
• Birthplace: Atlanta, Georgia
• Birth name: Michael King Jr.
• Renamed in 1934 to Martin Luther
• Federal holiday: third Monday in January