Robert Oppenheimer Age at Death
Robert Oppenheimer died at age 62. He was born on April 22, 1904, and passed away on February 18, 1967, meaning he had not yet reached his 63rd birthday. This fact is confirmed by multiple authoritative biographical sources that track his life milestones, including his early education, career timeline, and final years. The age at death is widely cited in historical records and reference sites that document prominent physicists and public figures.
The calculation of his age at death is straightforward: 1967 minus 1904 equals 63, but because his birthday in April came after his death in February, he was still 62. This detail matters for readers who want precise, query-focused answers rather than rounded estimates. The same method is used by biographical databases and science history platforms to report accurate ages for notable individuals.
Key Dates in Oppenheimer's Life
Oppenheimer was born in New York City in 1904 and showed early academic promise, entering Harvard University at age 18. He later studied in Europe, worked on foundational quantum theory, and rose to prominence as a theoretical physicist. His career trajectory, from student to professor to scientific director of the Manhattan Project, is well documented by institutions that preserve records of 20th-century science and defense history.
His death in 1967 followed a period of declining health, including a struggle with throat cancer that was linked in part to his earlier work and lifestyle. The timeline of his final years is covered by biographical archives and science history sites that also reference his security clearance hearing and later rehabilitation in public esteem. These sources provide the dates and context needed to understand his age at death within the broader arc of his career.
Legacy and Historical Context
Oppenheimer's legacy as the director of the Los Alamos Laboratory and the so-called father of the atomic bomb continues to shape public interest in his biography. His age at death is often mentioned alongside his contributions to physics, his role in Cold War policy, and the cultural impact of the Manhattan Project. Reference works and historical overviews use his birth and death dates to place his achievements in chronological context.
Modern audiences can explore his life through detailed biographies, documentaries, and official archives that cite his dates, positions, and scientific work. The factual record of his age at death remains a stable, searchable fact that supports broader queries about his career, his security case, and his influence on nuclear policy. This information is consistently presented across trusted reference platforms that maintain updated biographical data for major historical figures.