Colonel Sanders was born on September 9, 1890. He is well known for creating the Kentucky Fried Chicken fast food empire. He was a successful American entrepreneur. After his father died, he was left in charge of the family and learned how to cook. He left home while he was young and worked in a variety of occupations. During the Great Depression, he started cooking chicken for his customers at his service station in Corbin, Kentucky. He developed his unique mix of 11 herbs and spices after years of experimentation. Later, he opened Kentucky Fried Chicken franchises across the country. When he sold his stake in the company in 1964, it had 600 locations. We’ll help you celebrate Sander’s special birthday right here.
Fast Facts
Full Name:
Harland David Sanders
Nickname:
Entrepreneur
Birth date:
September 9, 1890
Death date:
December 16, 1980 (age 90)
Zodiac Sign:
Virgo
Height:
5' 10"
Net Worth:
$3.5 million
Background
Harland David Sanders was born in Henryville, Indiana, on September 9, 1890. His astrological sign was Virgo. His parents were Wilbur David and Margaret Ann, and he had two younger siblings. His father worked on an 80-acre farm until he broke his leg, after which he became a butcher. Harland’s father died of hay fever when he was just five years old. He was left in charge of the family when his father died and decided to learn how to cook. He worked various jobs by the age of eighteen. He even volunteered in the U.S. Army and served in Cuba as a mule handler.
Sanders’ entrepreneurial career began in 1930 when he opened a service station in Kentucky and opened a cafe, serving chicken to customers. Sanders eventually went to a nearby restaurant where he devised his recipe using eleven herbs and spices. He later purchased a hotel in Asheville, North Carolina. Gas was rationed during World War II. As a result, his customer base shrank, causing him to close the motel. Sanders subsequently chose to sell the restaurant, but that was not the end of his story. He traveled across the country, attempting to sell his chicken recipe to restaurant owners. Sanders was turned down multiple times and even laughed at, but he was not one to quit. His efforts paid off; after around a thousand visits, he persuaded Pete Herman to join him as a partner. As a result, Kentucky Fried Chicken was established in 1952. Everyone enjoyed Kentucky Fried Chicken. In its first year, the restaurant’s sales skyrocketed, accounting for more than 75 percent of its earnings from fried chicken. Appointing franchisees was a wise decision. K.F.C. established itself as a forerunner in the food industry. In 1964, he sold the Kentucky Fried Chicken Corporation to John Y. Brown, Jr. for $2 million. He kept the Canadian businesses and relocated to Mississauga, Ontario. Sanders used his stock assets to establish the Colonel Harland Sanders Charitable Organization and the Colonel Harland Sanders Trust.
He had two daughters and a son. However, he was sacked from his work once, and his wife abandoned him, taking the children with her for some time. After some time, Sanders received a letter from her brother in which he stated that his sister should not have married a guy like him who couldn’t even hold a job. Sanders was a high school dropout who was very motivated. His tremendous belief in himself and will to achieve propelled him to become one of the world’s most renowned persons.
Sanders died of pneumonia on September 16, 1980, in Louisiana, Kentucky. He had been diagnosed with leukemia the previous year.
Career timeline
Sanders establishes a ferry boat firm in Ohio, and he becomes a minority shareholder.
{1914
In Corbin, Kentucky, Sanders opens a Shell Oil Company service station.
He buys a motel in In Asheville, North Carolina, but it fails when gas starts being rationed due to World War II.
Sanders works as a restaurant supervisor in Seattle until the end of 1942.
Pete Harman, who controls the largest eateries in South Salt Lake City, becomes the first Kentucky Fried Chicken franchisee.
He sells the business because the number of clients at his Corbin restaurant has decreased.
Sanders sells the Kentucky Fried Chicken Corporation to John Y. Brown, Jr. for $2 million.
Why We Love Colonel Sanders
Sanders dressed in a distinctive manner
At the start, Sanders was dressed in a black frock coat. He changed into a black string tie and a white suit which made him very famous among K.F.C. customers.
He never gave up
Colonel Sanders was resilient. He was rejected over 1,000 times when he was trying to sell his recipe to restaurants, but he didn’t give up.
He engaged in philantrophy
Sanders supported charities that cared for women and children. He established the Colonel Harland Sanders Charitable Organization.
5 Surprising Facts
Sanders wasn't a colonel in the military
He was a Kentucky Colonel, an honorary title bestowed by the state of Kentucky.
He attempted several professions
Colonel only became a successful restauranteur after failing professions as a lawyer, insurance salesman, lamp salesman, and tire salesman.
He cheated on his wife
Sanders' second wife was not interested in having a sexual relationship after having three children, so Sanders found what he needed to find in other places.
He dropped out of school at 16
He dropped out of school when he was 16 years old and attempted various jobs, many of which he failed to keep.
Sanders' first restaurant was located inside a gas station
He started cooking and serving his clients chicken, ham, and steaks in a Shell Oil Company service station in Corbin, Kentucky.
Colonel Sanders FAQs
Why is Colonel Sanders called a colonel?
It is an honorary title given to him by the State of Kentucky; it is therefore not a military title.
What age was Sanders as he started K.F.C.?
He began franchising his chicken company at the age of 65, utilizing his $105 monthly Social Security cheque.
How much did Colonel Sanders sell for K.F.C.?
He got two million dollars out of the deal.
Colonel Sanders’s birthday dates
Year | Date | Day |
---|---|---|
2025 | September 9 | Tuesday |
2026 | September 9 | Wednesday |
2027 | September 9 | Thursday |
2028 | September 9 | Saturday |
2029 | September 9 | Sunday |