When and where was J.R.R. Tolkien born?

by · Published · Updated

J.R.R. Tolkien was born on January 3, 1892, in Bloemfontein.

Orange Free State flag

Orange Free State flag

Bloemfontein was then part of the Orange Free State, an independent Boer sovereign republic under British suzerainty in Southern Africa during the second half of the 19th century.

Today it is part of the South African province Free State and its capital as well as the juidicial capital of South Africa.

Links of interest

1899 map of Bloemfontein.

Photo of Maitland Street; Tolkien was born in Bank House, Maitland Street.

The Hobbit Guesthouse/ Boutique Hotel holds the gedenkplaak/ blue plaque commemorating Tolkien’s birthplace.

Marcel R. Bülles

Marcel R. Bülles is the author of thetolkienist.com, a specialist blog centering on worldwide Tolkien fandom, geekdom and research. He works as a freelance translator, journalist and writer and is the founder of the German Tolkien Society as well as a co-founder to RingCon, Europe's formerly biggest fantasy film convention. You can find him in cafés all over the world sipping an espresso blogging, writing, reading. At one point he was married to an extremely lovely French lady by the nickname of Sauron. Yes, that Sauron. He is also active with the International Tolkien Fellowship on Facebook and the Tolkien Folk on Instagram.