Martin Luther King Jr. was an American Baptist minister, civil rights activist, and political philosopher, renowned for his leadership in the civil rights movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968. He is most famous for his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech delivered during the 1963 March on Washington, which became a defining moment in the American civil rights movement.

Born as Michael King Jr. on January 15, 1929, King was a central figure in advancing civil rights through nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience against racial segregation and discrimination. He led several pivotal campaigns, including the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott, and was the first president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. His leadership in the movement led to significant legislative changes, such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

King's efforts earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, making him the youngest recipient at that time. Despite facing numerous arrests and being subjected to extensive surveillance by the FBI, King remained committed to nonviolence and equality.

Tragically, Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee, while planning the Poor People's Campaign to address economic injustice. His legacy continues to inspire movements for civil rights across the globe.

He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977 and the Congressional Gold Medal in 2003. Martin Luther King Jr. Day was established as a U.S. federal holiday in 1986.