Bertrand Russell

1872 – 1970 · died at about 98^[1][2]

Philosophy & Thought

Fun Facts About Bertrand Russell

• Bertrand Russell was one of 24 survivors, out of 43 passengers, of a 1948 plane crash in Hommelvik, and said he owed his life to smoking: those who drowned sat in the non-smoking section.^[1]
• Russell's father asked the philosopher John Stuart Mill to be the baby's secular godfather.^[1]
• Jailed for six months in 1918 for his antiwar activism, Russell wrote a book in prison and laughed out loud at Strachey's Eminent Victorians, until a warder reminded him "prison was a place of punishment".^[1]
• Einstein's famous line "great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds" came from a 1940 letter backing Russell after a court found him "morally unfit" to teach.^[1][3][4]
• When Russell refused to pay a 1916 fine, his books were auctioned off; friends bought them, and he treasured his Bible stamped "Confiscated by Cambridge Police".^[1]
• Paul McCartney said that after discussing the Vietnam War with Russell at his house, he inspired John Lennon and the Beatles to take an antiwar stance.^{[1][5][6][7][8]}
• Bertrand Russell was alive at the same time as Michael Schumacher — their lives overlapped for 1 year (1969–1970).^{[1][2][9][10]}
• Bertrand Russell shares a birthday with Pope John Paul II: both were born on May 18.^{[1][2][11][12]}

Bertrand Arthur William Russell, 3rd Earl Russell, was an English mathematician and philosopher. A founder of analytic philosophy, he was a leading philosopher of the 20th century who produced pioneering work in logic, set theory, and philosophy of language. Russell popularised philosophy to the general public and was a controversial figure for his outspoken atheism, pacifism, and opposition to nuclear weapons. Despite his extensive contributions to mathematics, Russell was more known to the public for his books and commentary on several social and political issues.^[1]

Contemporaries

Winston Churchill

91 yr overlap

Lise Meitner

90 yr overlap

Albert Schweitzer

90 yr overlap

Pablo Picasso

89 yr overlap

Igor Stravinsky

88 yr overlap

Helen Keller

88 yr overlap

Coco Chanel

87 yr overlap

Frank Lloyd Wright

87 yr overlap

Carl Jung

86 yr overlap

Harry S. Truman

86 yr overlap

Georgia O'Keeffe

83 yr overlap

Chiang Kai-shek

83 yr overlap

Their World

Questions About Bertrand Russell

When was Bertrand Russell born?

Bertrand Russell was born on May 18, 1872, and died on February 2, 1970.

How old was Bertrand Russell at death?

Bertrand Russell was born on May 18, 1872, and died on February 2, 1970, at age 97.

What was Bertrand Russell known for?

Bertrand Russell was known for: Logician, philosopher and Nobel laureate. Bertrand Arthur William Russell, 3rd Earl Russell, was an English mathematician and philosopher. A founder of analytic philosophy, he was a leading philosopher of the 20th century who produced pioneering work in logic, set theory, and philosophy of language. Russell popularised philosophy to the general public and was a controversial figure for his outspoken atheism, pacifism, and opposition to nuclear weapons. Despite his extensive contributions to mathematics, Russell was more known to the public for his books and commentary on several social and political issues.

Who was alive at the same time as Bertrand Russell?

Bertrand Russell's closest contemporary was Winston Churchill. Their lives overlapped for 91 years.