by Darla M. Beck

Created on: January 15, 2010

Facts about the life of Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Year of 1929

Born on January 15 in Atlanta, Georgia. Son of Martin Luther King, Sr., a Baptist Minister, and Alberta Christine Williams King, a school teacher.

The Year of 1935

Began attending the all-black Youge Street Elementary School in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Year of 1944

Graduated at the age of 15 from Booker T. Washington High School in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Year of 1948

Became assistant pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia on February 25.

Graduated at the age of 19 from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology.

The Year of 1951

Graduated in May from Crozer Theological Seminary in Chester, Pennsylvania with a bachelor degree in Divinity.

The Year of 1953

Married Coretta Scott in Marlon, Alabama on June 18.

The Year of 1954

Became pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama.

The Year of 1955

Received his PhD in Systemic Theology from Boston University on June 5.

The birth of his first child, Yolanda Denise King. Born in Montgomery, Alabama on November 17.

Joined the bus boycott in Montgomery, Alabama on December 1.

Became president of the Montgomery Improvement Association on December 5.

The Year of 1956

First time arrested for a traffic violation.

The Year of 1957

Served as first president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

The birth of his second child, Martin Luther King, III. Born in Montgomery, Alabama on October 23.

The Year of 1958

Published his first book, “Stride Toward Freedom.”

The Year of 1959

Resigned as pastor at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama.

The Year of 1960

Became co-pastor with his father, Martin Luther King, Sr., at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia.

Arrested during a sit-in at a restaurant in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Year of 1961

The birth of his third child, Dexter Scott King. Born in Montgomery, Alabama on January 30.

The Year of 1962

Arrested during a failed movement in Albany, Georgia on July 27.

The Year of 1963

The birth of his fourth child, Bernice Albertine King. Born in Atlanta, Georgia on March 28.

Arrested for demonstrating without a permit in Birmingham, Alabama on April 12.

Wrote his famous, “Letter From Birmingham Jail,” on April 16.

Led 125.000 people on a Freedom Walk in Detroit, Michigan on June 23.

Delivered his “I Have A Dream” speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC on August 28.

The Year of 1964

The first black American to be honored as Time Magazine’s Man of the Year on January 3.

Attended the signing ceremony of the Civil Rights Act at the White House in Washington, DC on July 2.

Won the Nobel Peace Prize at the age of 35 on December 10.

The Year of 1965

Arrested during a voting rights demonstration in Selma, Alabama on February 2.

The Year of 1966

Moved into a slum tenement in Chicago, Illinois on January 22.

Began the March Against Fear Through The South in June.

Announced the campaign to end discrimination in housing, employment and schools in Chicago, Illinois on July 10.

The Year of 1967

Announced the beginning of the Poor People’s campaign on November 27.

The Year of 1968

Marched in support of the sanitation workers on strike in Memphis, Tennessee, which began on February 11.

Delivered his speech, “I’ve Been To The Mountaintop” at the Mason Temple in Memphis, Tennessee on April 3.

Assassinated at the age of 39 while standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee on April 4.

His funeral was held at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia on April 9.

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