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A photo of John Ronald Reuel Tolkien

John Ronald Reuel Tolkien 1892 - 1973

John Ronald Reuel Tolkien of Bournemouth, Dorset County, England United Kingdom was born on January 3, 1892 in Bloemfontein, Motheo County, FS South Africa to Arthur Reuel Tolkien and Mabel (Suffield) Tolkien. He had a brother Hilary Arthur Reuel Tolkien. John was baptized in June 1900 at Roman Catholic Church in Birmingham, West Midlands County, England United Kingdom. He married Edith Mary Tolkien on March 22, 1916, and they were married until Edith's death on November 29, 1971. He had children John Francis Reuel Tolkien, Michael Hilary Reuel Tolkien, Christopher John Reuel Tolkien, and Priscilla Mary Anne Reuel Tolkien. John Tolkien died at age 81 years old on September 2, 1973 in Bournemouth, Dorset County, and was buried on September 6, 1973 at Wolvercote Cemetery Banbury Rd, in Oxfordshire County.
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien
J R R Tolkien, Ronald
Bournemouth, Dorset County, England United Kingdom
January 3, 1892
Bloemfontein, Motheo County, FS, South Africa
September 2, 1973
Bournemouth, Dorset County, England, United Kingdom
Male
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John Ronald Reuel Tolkien's History: 1892 - 1973

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  • Introduction

    John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, best known as J.R.R. Tolkien, was a writer, poet, and academic likely best remembered by most for his high fantasy works The Hobbit (published in 1937) and The Lord of the Rings (published in 1954). John Tolkien's parents were Arthur Reuel Tolkien (1857 -1896) and Mabel Suffield (1870 - 1904). He had one brother, Hilary Arthur Reuel Tolkien, born 1894 in South Africa. Born in South Africa where his father was a bank manager, Tolkien moved to England with his mother when he was 3. He was home schooled by her until she died when he was 12. His father had died earlier, leaving him and his younger brother orphans. After that, the boys were raised by a Catholic priest and were sent to King Edward's School and later, Oxford. He went on to marry and have four children. John Tolkien married Edith Mary Bratt (1889 - 1971) on March 22, 1916, in Warwick, Warwickshire, England, in St. Mary Immaculate Roman Catholic Church. They had three sons: John Francis (1917 - 2003), Michael Hilary (1920 - 1984), and Christopher (born 1924) and one daughter, Priscilla (1929 - 2022). J.R.R. Tolkien (1892 - 1973) wrote books and poetry, as well as being a distinguished Professor at Oxford University. Best known for "The Hobbit" published in 1937, and "The Lord of the Rings" published during the years of 1954 - 1955, his son Christopher posthumously gathered his old notes and manuscripts to create "The Silmarillion", which had 5 parts. A friend of C. S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien is credited with being the father of "high fantasy".
  • 01/3
    1892

    Birthday

    January 3, 1892
    Birthdate
    Bloemfontein, Motheo County, FS South Africa
    Birthplace
  • Ethnicity & Family History

    John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was Caucasian. He was of English heritage. The family was originally from East Prussia (in the 1600s).
  • Nationality & Locations

    John Tolkien was born in Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa and was raised in England.
  • Early Life & Education

    John Tolkien attended King Edward's School, then because he couldn't afford the tuition, he transferred to St. Philip's School. When he received a scholarship, he again returned to King Edward's School. He went on to attend Exeter College at Oxford University and graduated in 1915, with first-class honors.
  • 06/dd
    1900

    Baptism

    June 1900
    Baptism date
    Roman Catholic Church in Birmingham, West Midlands County, England United Kingdom
    Place of worship
  • Military Service

    John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Lancashire Fusilliers and trained with the 13th Reserve Battalion. He served in World War I: Transferred to the 11th Service Battalion of the British Expeditionary Force, he arrived in France. He trained as a signals officer, then was sent to the Somme. Participated in assaults on the Schwaben Redoubt and the Leipzig Salient. John then was Invalided back to England after a case of trench fever (diagnosed 27 October 1916). He had numerous other health problems, which had removed him from combat on several occasions.
  • Professional Career

    From 1925 - 1945, John Tolkein was a Professor of Anglo-Saxon history at Pembroke College at Oxford University. From 1945 - 1959, he was a Professor of English Language and Literature at Merton College, Oxford.
  • Personal Life & Family

    Married once to Edith Bratt, John Tolkien and Edith had three sons. He was baptized into the Roman Catholic Church with his mother in 1900. The rest of the family was opposed to the move.
  • 09/2
    1973

    Death

    September 2, 1973
    Death date
    Stomach ulcer
    Cause of death
    Bournemouth, Dorset County, England United Kingdom
    Death location
  • 09/6
    1973

    Gravesite & Burial

    September 6, 1973
    Funeral date
    Wolvercote Cemetery Banbury Rd, in Oxfordshire County, England OX2 8EE, United Kingdom
    Burial location
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3 Memories, Stories & Photos about John

J.R.R. Tolkien
J.R.R. Tolkien
A photo of J.R.R. Tolkien, author of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings.
Date & Place: in United Kingdom
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John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (1892 - 1973) wrote books and poetry, and was a distinguished Professor at Oxford University. Best known for "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings", his son Christopher posthumously gathered his old notes and manuscripts to create "The Silmarillion", which had 5 parts. A friend of C. S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien is credited with being the father of "high fantasy".

Born in South Africa where his father was a bank manager, Tolkien moved to England with his mother when he was 3. He was home schooled by her until she died when he was 12. His father had died earlier, leaving him and his younger brother orphans. After that, the boys were raised by a Catholic priest and were sent to King Edward's School and later, Oxford. He went on to marry and have four children.

The Hobbit was published in 1937, The Lord of the Rings was published during the years of 1954 - 1955, and The Silmarillion was published in 1977. We will always remember the life of the orphan boy with his dazzling imagination.
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J.R.R. Tolkien
J.R.R. Tolkien
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, better known as JRR Tolkien, the fantasy author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.
Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.
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Young J.R.R. Tolkien
Young J.R.R. Tolkien
Author John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was an English writer and poet, known for his fantasy works "The Hobbit", "The Lord of the Rings", and "The Silmarillion". The great success of his writing led to a revival of the fantasy genre, which is why he is now known as the "father" of modern fantasy literature.
Date & Place: in United Kingdom
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