Hans Christian Andersen Fact Sheet: Who was Hans Christian Andersen? The following short biography and fact sheet provides interesting facts about the life, times and history of Hans Christian Andersen.

Hans Christian Andersen Fact File Biography: Lifespan: 1805 - 1875 *** Full Name: Hans Christian Andersen *** Occupation: Danish Author *** Date of Birth: Hans Christian Andersen was born on April 2nd 1805 *** Place of Birth: Hans Christian Andersen was born in Odense, Funen, Kingdom of Denmark *** Family background: His father was Hans Anderson and his mother was Anne Marie Andersdatter. His father believed he was of a noble family and possibly an illegitimate son King Christian VIII of Denmark and his mother had been an uneducated washerwoman *** Early life and childhood: He grew up an only child *** Education: Hans Christian Andersen attended a local school for deprived children and was given a basic education ***

Hans Christian Andersen Fact 1: Hans Christian Andersen was born on April 2nd 1805 and during the 19th century period in history when great strides were made in the industrial revolution, the Victoria era was coming to a close and there were vast technological advances being made.

Hans Christian Andersen Fact 2: Hans learned early on he needed to provide for himself especially after his father died in 1816. He would apprentice for a weaver and also a tailor.

Hans Christian Andersen Fact 3: When he was fourteen years old he moved to Copenhagen where he looked for work as an actor.

Hans Christian Andersen Fact 4: He had a wonderful soprano voice and this would get him accepted into the Royal Danish Theatre but unfortunately he began to mature and his voice changed. It was suggested that he showed talent in poetry and so he began to concentrate more on writing.

Hans Christian Andersen Fact 5: The director of the Royal Danish Theatre developed an affection for Hans and made arrangements for him to attend a grammar school in Slagelse, he even persuaded King Frederick VI to contribute towards the lads education. His time spent in school would not be remembered with any fondness.

Hans Christian Andersen Fact 6: One of his first publications was The Ghost at Palnatoke’s Grave which was published in 1822.

Hans Christian Andersen Fact 7: In 2012 discovered in a Danish archive is a fair take called The Tallow Candle which was written by Hans in the 1820’s. The story had been written by Hans when he was still in school to a benefactor and amongst their belongings in an old suitcase was where it was found.

Hans Christian Andersen Fact 8: His story called A Journey on foot from Holmen’s Canal to the East Point of Amager gained Hans considerable success in 1829.

Hans Christian Andersen Fact 9: He then wrote a theatrical piece, Love on St. Nicholas Church Tower.

Hans Christian Andersen Fact 10: Around this time he also put together a small book of poems.

Hans Christian Andersen Fact 11: In 1833 he was given a little money donated by the King to enable him to travel around Europe.

Hans Christian Andersen Fact 12: While in Switzerland in Jura near Le Locle he wrote Angete and the Merman. While in Italy he visited a seaside village of Sestri Levante which inspired him to write The Bay of Fables and in October of 1834 his travels bought him to Rome.

Hans Christian Andersen Fact 13: His first novel would be about his travels around Italy, The Improvisatore, an autobiographical book he had published in 1835 and which was instantly a success.

Hans Christian Andersen Fact 14: Hans’s early attempts at writing his own fairy stories were revised versions of the story he himself had been told as child.

Hans Christian Andersen Fact 15: Eventually he found a new style of writing these tales in a whole new format although there was some difficulty in translating and not losing his brilliant humor and some of the dark sadness.

Hans Christian Andersen Fact 16: Anderson’s first installment of his Fairy Tales was published in 1835 with further stories published in 1837. In the collection were the stories, The Tinderbox, The Princess and the Pea, The Little Mermaid, The Emperor’s New Clothes and Thumbelina.

Hans Christian Andersen Fact 17: By 1845 he published four different translations of his tales followed a another volume Wonderful Stories for Children and then, A Danish Story Book and Danish Fairy Tales and Legends.

Hans Christian Andersen Fact 18: In the London journal The Athenaeum wrote of the Wonderful Stories “This is a book full of life and fancy; a book for grandfathers no less than grandchildren, not a word of which will be skipped by those who have it once in hand.”.

Hans Christian Andersen Fact 19: In 1847 Hans made his first visit to England where he was warmly greeted with the Countess of Blessington inviting him to her parties where he met Charles Dickens. He was a huge admirer of Dickens and was extremely happy to have made his acquaintance. In common they shared their portrayals of the under-classes and the poor.

Hans Christian Andersen Fact 20: Hans Christian Andersen died on August 4th 1872 of liver cancer near Copenhagen aged seventy years. His body laid to rest in the Assistens Kirkegard in the Norrebro area of Copenhagen.

Influence & Legacy of Hans Christian Andersen: His everlasting legacy is in the stories he left behind and the children over the decades that have enjoyed them. Not only has his own story been turned into films but many of his stories have also made it to the big screen for families to enjoy across the globe.