Basic Information
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Harland David Sanders Jr. |
| Date of Birth | April 23, 1912 |
| Place of Birth | Tuscumbia, Colbert County, Alabama |
| Date of Death | September 15, 1932 |
| Place of Death | Martinsville, Morgan County, Indiana |
| Age at Death | 20 years |
| Burial Location | Walnut Ridge Cemetery, Washington Township, Morgan County |
Biographical Overview
Harland David Sanders Jr. was born on April 23, 1912, in Tuscumbia, Alabama. He was the first son of Harland Sanders Sr., who would later start Kentucky Fried Chicken, and Josephine King Sanders. His zodiac sign was Taurus, not Aquarius. He grew up in the rural South and then moved to Indiana. At age 12, he went to elementary school in Henryville, Indiana, and left after sixth grade to help his family’s business.
When he was 20, on September 15, 1932, he had a routine tonsillectomy in Martinsville, Indiana. He got a streptococcal infection during the surgery, which quickly turned into septicemia. Even with the medical care of that time, he died of blood poisoning within days. His death came just five months before his twenty‑first birthday.
Family and Personal Relationships
Harland Sanders Jr. was the oldest of three children of Josephine King Sanders (October 2, 1888 – December 6, 1975) and Harland Sanders Sr. He never married or had children. He lived mostly out of the public eye.
| Relationship | Name | Lifespan | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Father | Harland David Sanders Sr. | September 9, 1890 – December 16, 1980 | Founded Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) in 1952 |
| Mother | Josephine King Sanders | October 2, 1888 – December 6, 1975 | Survived her son by 43 years |
| Sister | Margaret Josephine Sanders | March 29, 1910 – October 19, 2001 | Later resided in West Palm Beach, Florida |
| Sister | Mildred Marie Sanders Ruggles | October 15, 1919 – September 21, 2010 | Active in Kentucky family circles; born seven years after him |
| Half‑siblings | None interacting | N/A | Harland Sr.’s second marriage to Claudia Price occurred after his death |
Education and Prospects
Harland Jr. finished his formal education at age 12 after sixth grade. He did not have any record of high school or college education:
- Elementary School: He studied in Henryville, Indiana, and left school in 1924.
- Career Plans: He had no career plans because he died at age 20.
Since he died in 1932, Harland Jr. never worked in the family business or any other field. His potential stayed unfulfilled, and people now wonder what he might have done.
Public Image and Legacy
He was private when he was alive, but his story now helps people see the personal costs behind famous brands:
- Documentary Feature (June 2025): He was in “Colonel Sanders’ Children: The Untold Story Behind KFC’s Family Legacy” on YouTube. It got over 1.2 million views in its first month.
- Retrospectives: Many articles mention his death as a key family tragedy that influenced Colonel Sanders Sr.’s charitable work.
- Social Footprint: He had no social media. Stories about him come from family biographies and later media pieces.
Medical Context and Cause of Death
Harland Sanders Jr.’s death shows the dangers of surgery in the early 1900s:
| Statistic | Figure |
|---|---|
| Tonsillectomy Mortality (Early 1930s) | 1–2 deaths per 1,000 procedures |
| Patient Age | 20 years |
| Infection Type | Streptococcal septicemia |
| Time from Surgery to Death | Within 4 days |
In the 1930s, about 0.1–0.2% of tonsillectomies led to death nationwide. Bleeding and infections were the main risks. Harland Jr. got a streptococcal infection during his surgery, which led to quick septicemia and deadly blood poisoning.
FAQ
What was Harland Sanders Jr.’s date of birth?
He was born on April 23, 1912, in Tuscumbia, Alabama.
How did Harland Sanders Jr. die?
He died on September 15, 1932, from septicemia caused by a streptococcal infection after a tonsillectomy.
Where is Harland Sanders Jr. buried?
He is buried at Walnut Ridge Cemetery in Washington Township, Morgan County, Indiana.
Did Harland Sanders Jr. have siblings?
Yes. He had two sisters: Margaret Josephine Sanders (1910–2001) and Mildred Marie Sanders Ruggles (1919–2010).
Did he work in the family business?
No. He died at age 20 before he could start any career or join KFC.
What impact did his death have on his father?
His death is often said to have influenced Colonel Sanders Sr.’s charity work and public image later on.
References
| Source | Description |
|---|---|
| https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/72197162/harland_david-sanders | Exact birth date and place: April 23, 1912 in Tuscumbia, Colbert County, Alabama. |
| https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/MGHH-SHF/harland-david-sanders-jr-1912-1932 | Exact death date and place, and burial location: Died September 15, 1932 in Martinsville, Morgan County, Indiana; interred at Walnut Ridge Cemetery. |
| https://www.mashed.com/131055/the-tragic-real-life-story-of-colonel-sanders/ | Medical complication: Contracted a streptococcal infection leading to septicemia after tonsillectomy. |
| https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonel_Sanders | Family details: Mother’s full lifespan and sisters’ birth/death dates and later residences. |
| https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Suoc3ZSpGc | Legacy coverage: Featured in a June 2025 YouTube documentary about Colonel Sanders’s children. |
| https://joyenergizer.com/the-tragic-true-story-of-colonel-sanders-and-why-you-should-follow-your-dreams-and-never-gave-up/ | Detailed medical context: Septicemia following streptococcal infection during tonsillectomy. |
| https://nursing.virginia.edu/media/windows-in-time-2013-may.pdf | Historical mortality rates: Tonsillectomy mortality in early 1930s U.S. ranged 1–2 per 1,000 procedures. |
