GREENERPASTURE Free Family History Since 1999

flag photo of Richard Nathaniel WRIGHT   Photo of Richard Nathaniel WRIGHT Richard Nathaniel  WRIGHT

Born
4 September 1908 Roxie, Mississippi, USA
Died
28 November 1960 Paris, France

Parents & Family of Richard Nathaniel WRIGHT

Explore parents, grandparents, spouses, children, and the family connections surrounding Richard Nathaniel WRIGHT.

Grandparents
Spouse & Children


Born: 4 September 1908 in Roxie, Mississippi, USA

Father: Nathan WRIGHT
Mother: Ella WILSON


Richard Nathaniel WRIGHT died 28 November 1960 in Paris, France.





photo/ portrait (above) from familysearch.org

Details of the family tree of Richard appear below.


Add Life Event
Have another record or photo?
Add a life event, census record, military record, obituary, achievement, or photograph for Richard Nathaniel WRIGHT.


Life & Records

Photos, life events, and historical records for Richard Nathaniel WRIGHT.

How to read this timeline
Records about Richard Nathaniel WRIGHT and family appear alongside historical events from the same years. Each item is labeled so you can quickly tell family records from historical context.
BirthBirth — 1908
4 September 1908
Roxie, Mississippi, USA
Biography
Richard Nathaniel Wright was born on September 4, 1908, on a plantation in Roxie, Mississippi. He was the son of Nathaniel Wright, a sharecropper, and Ella Wilson, a schoolteacher. His early years were marked by poverty and hardship. His father abandoned the family when Richard was just five years old, leaving his mother to support him and his younger brother.

Despite the challenges, Wright developed a love for reading and writing at a young age. He was largely self-taught, spending hours in the local library and immersing himself in literature. His intellectual curiosity and desire for knowledge set him on a path that would ultimately lead him to become one of the most influential African American writers of the 20th century.

In 1925, seeking better opportunities, Wright moved to Chicago, where he found work in various jobs, including as a postal clerk and a dishwasher. Chicago's vibrant cultural scene and the burgeoning African American community played a crucial role in...Read full story


Invention 1934 - The metal beverage can is invented (American Can Co., United States)
Invention 1940 - April - 1st electron microscope demonstrated (RCA), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Invention The microwave oven was invented accidentally in 1945 by Percy Spencer, a Raytheon engineer. While testing a magnetron, he noticed microwaves melted a candy bar in his pocket. Experimenting further, he discovered microwaves could cook food quickly. Raytheon patented the process, and by 1947, they built the first commercial microwave oven, called the 'Radarange.' Initially used in commercial settings, microwaves becomes affordable for home use by the 1960s and 1970s, revolutionizing cooking.
DeathDeath — 1960
28 November 1960
Paris, France
He died at the age of 52.
RECORD HISTORY

Record added: 11/29/2023 2:03:34 AM
Last updated: 1/15/2026 12:37:24 PM

MORE WAYS TO EXPLORE

Explore Richard Nathaniel WRIGHT's Family & History

View charts and other tools for this ancestor and family.

KEEP SEARCHING

Not the ancestor you were looking for?

Search for another person or explore genealogy by place.

Search for a Person by Name

Enter as much of the name as you know.

Search by Place

Enter a place and choose a match from the suggestions.


RESEARCH ON OTHER SITES

Continue Researching Richard Wright

Search other genealogy websites using this ancestor's known name, dates, and places.

GENEALOGY GIFTS & RESOURCES

Gifts & Resources Related to Roxie, Mississippi

Explore local-history books, genealogy resources, and gifts connected with this ancestor's birthplace and family-history research.

DISCUSSION & CORRECTIONS

Questions, Corrections & New Information

Ask a question or share a correction, source, or new detail about Richard Nathaniel WRIGHT.

When possible, include names, dates, places, and sources so the information is easier to verify.