Paul McCartney was born on 18 June 1942.
James Paul McCartney was born at Liverpool Walton Hospital. His mother Mary had previously worked there as a nurse in the maternity ward.
He looked awful. I couldn’t get over it. Horrible. He had one eye open, and he just squawked all the time. They held him up and he looked like a piece of red meat. When I got home I cried, the first time for years and years.But the next day, he looked more human. He turned out a lovely baby in the end.
In 1947 McCartney began attending Stockton Wood Road Primary school, before moving on to Joseph Williams Junior School. He passed his 11 Plus exam in 1953 and attained a place at the Liverpool Institute.
In 1954, while riding on the bus to the Institute, he met George Harrison, who lived nearby.
The following year the McCartneys moved to 20 Forthlin Road, now owned by the National Trust.
On 31 October 1956 Mary McCartney died of an embolism following a mastectomy. She had been suffering from breast cancer.
McCartney’s father Jim was a pianist and trumpet player who encouraged Paul and his brother Mike to become musical. He bought Paul a trumpet, which was swapped for a £15 Framus Zenith acoustic guitar when skiffle became a national craze.
Also on this day...
- 2022: Tributes paid to Paul McCartney on his 80th birthday
- 2014: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Beacon Theatre, New York City
- 2011: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Empire Theatre, Liverpool
- 2010: John Lennon’s handwritten lyrics for A Day In The Life sell for $1.2m
- 2009: Ringo Starr to get Hollywood Walk of Fame star
- 2001: Sir Paul McCartney’s coat of arms is granted
- 1995: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Osaka-jō Hall, Osaka
- 1976: Wings live: Tucson Community Center, Tucson
- 1973: US single release: Live And Let Die by Wings
- 1968: Première of the In His Own Write stage play
- 1968: George Harrison and Ringo Starr return to England from America
- 1968: Paul McCartney celebrates his 26th birthday at Apple
- 1965: Television: Tonight
- 1965: Radio: BBC European Service
- 1965: Mixing: I’ve Just Seen A Face, I’m Down, It’s Only Love, Act Naturally, Wait, Help!, Yesterday
- 1964: The Beatles live: Sydney Stadium, Sydney
- 1963: John Lennon beats up Cavern DJ Bob Wooler at Paul McCartney’s 21st birthday party
- 1961: The Beatles live: Top Ten Club, Hamburg
- 1960: The Silver Beetles live: Grosvenor Ballroom, Wallasey
- 1956: Paul McCartney is given a trumpet for his 14th birthday
Want more? Visit the Beatles history section.
The above map is showing the wrong hospital. This is the Walton Neuro Centre which moved from Walton Hospital to Fazakerley Hospital after Walton Hospital closed. McCartney waas born in Walton Hospital on Rice Lane Liverpool
Thanks Tony. I’ve changed the map point – hopefully I’ve got it right this time, but please let me know if not.
I can’t believe he was rejected from a choir when he was a little boy! I’m serious! Look it up. But I’m very happy he got 90% in Latin!
His dad says that Paul deliberately cracked his voice in defiance because he didn’t want to be part of the choir. (Not because he couldn’t sing)
And I believe that he actually failed his Latin exam
Where’s that Jim McCartney quote from ?
I have it on good authority that the person we think of as paul mccartney was actually called Phillip Higginbottom until he was 15 and changed his name by deepoll. He didn’t even study Latin, or attend school except on Thursday. He once was bought a tuba by his uncle Wendy,:which he exchanged for a ukulele from a shop in Fiver
Lane, Nottty Ash. Amazed at how few people actually know the truth like what I do.
Nicely done!