The Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King Jr.
1st President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference
In office January 10, 1957 – April 4, 1968
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Ralph Abernathy
Personal details
Born	Michael King Jr. (1929-01-15)January 15, 1929 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Died	April 4, 1968(1968-04-04) (aged 39) Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Cause of death	Assassination by sniper
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Coretta Scott (m. 1953)
Children	Yolanda Martin Dexter Bernice
Parents	Martin Luther King Sr. Alberta Williams King
Relatives	Christine King Farris (sister) Alfred Daniel Williams King (brother) Alveda King (niece)
Education	Morehouse College (BA) Crozer Theological Seminary (BDiv) Boston University (PhD)
Occupation	Minister, activist
Known for	Civil Rights Movement, Peace movement
Awards	Nobel Peace Prize (1964) Presidential Medal of Freedom (1977, posthumous) Congressional Gold Medal (2004, posthumous)
Religion	Baptists
Monuments	Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
Signature

Martin Luther King, Jr. (born Michael King, Jr.; January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American pastor, activist, humanitarian, and leader in the Civil Rights Movement. He was best known for improving civil rights by using nonviolent civil disobedience, based on his Christian beliefs. Because he was both a Ph.D. and a pastor King is sometimes called the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. (abbreviation: the Rev. Dr. King), or just Dr King. He is also known by his initials MLK. He was the pastor of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia.