John Winston Lennon was born on 9 October 1940 in the Liverpool Maternity Hospital, Oxford Street, Liverpool, to Julia Lennon (née Stanley) and Alfred “Freddie” Lennon.
John was named after his paternal grandfather, John ‘Jack’ Lennon, and British prime minister Winston Churchill. His father Alf wasn’t present at the birth as he was away at sea with the Merchant Navy.
In later years Lennon’s aunt Mimi claimed that a German air raid took place on the night of Lennon’s birth. In fact, there was no bombing in Liverpool on this date.
Reaching out to Johnny on his birthday. Love Paul x pic.twitter.com/7ybKTTm9Me
— Paul McCartney (@PaulMcCartney) October 9, 2017
#HappyBirthday John. @johnlennon photo: George Harrison ©Harrison Family pic.twitter.com/aRhAtRmg4w
— George Harrison (@GeorgeHarrison) October 9, 2017
They say it’s your birthday peace and love. ?????????? pic.twitter.com/U3JODuWc2b
— #RingoStarr (@ringostarrmusic) October 9, 2017
Also on this day...
- 2023: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Charleston Coliseum, Charleston
- 2020: Celebrations take place for John Lennon’s 80th birthday
- 2017: New book! Riding So High – The Beatles and Drugs
- 2015: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Vancouver
- 2013: Paul McCartney live: Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, New York
- 2011: Sir Paul McCartney marries Nancy Shevell
- 2010: Photograph of John Lennon is projected onto Liverpool’s Albert Dock
- 2010: “And the world will be as one”: Global tributes take place for John Lennon’s 70th birthday
- 2010: Yoko Ono requests a million tweets for John Lennon
- 2009: Yoko Ono unveils Imagine Peace Tower in Second Life
- 2002: Paul McCartney live: Savvis Center, St Louis
- 2000: Tributes for John Lennon’s 60th birthday
- 1998: Yoko Ono dedicates a tree to John Lennon in Strawberry Fields
- 1993: Paul McCartney live: Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam
- 1990: Imagine is broadcast around the world
- 1989: Paul McCartney live: Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy, Paris
- 1988: John Lennon tributes are broadcast on US television
- 1985: Strawberry Fields is opened in Central Park, New York City
- 1984: Yoko Ono donates $90,000 to Strawberry Field in Liverpool
- 1981: John Lennon statue is unveiled in Los Angeles
- 1980: John Lennon’s 40th birthday
- 1979: John Lennon’s 39th birthday party, Tavern On The Green, New York
- 1978: John Lennon’s 38th birthday party, Tavern On The Green, New York
- 1976: John Lennon’s 36th birthday
- 1975: Sean Lennon is born
- 1971: John Lennon’s all-star 31st birthday party in Syracuse, New York
- 1971: Yoko Ono’s art exhibition This Is Not Here opens in Syracuse, New York
- 1970: Recording: Remember by John Lennon
- 1970: John Lennon sees his father Alf for the final time
- 1969: Yoko Ono is taken to hospital in London
- 1968: Recording, mixing: The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill, Long Long Long, Why Don’t We Do It In The Road
- 1967: John Lennon’s 27th birthday
- 1966: John Lennon celebrates his 26th birthday in Spain
- 1965: The Beatles celebrate John Lennon’s 25th birthday
- 1964: The Beatles live: Gaumont Cinema, Bradford
- 1963: Radio: The Ken Dodd Show
- 1962: The Beatles promote Love Me Do in London
- 1961: John Lennon celebrates his 21st birthday with Paul McCartney in Paris
- 1960: The Beatles live: Kaiserkeller, Hamburg
- 1956: John Lennon’s 16th birthday
Want more? Visit the Beatles history section.