Origins & Early Life

James Clayton Dobson Jr. (April 21, 1936 – August 21, 2025) was an American evangelical Christian author, psychologist and founder of Focus on the Family (FotF), which he led from 1977 until 2010. In the 1980s, he was ranked as one of the most influential spokesmen for conservative social positions in American public life. Although never an ordained minister, he was called "the nation's most influential evangelical leader" by The New York Times while Slate portrayed him as being a successor to evangelical leaders Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

As part of his role in the organization he produced the daily radio program Focus on the Family, which was broadcast in more than a dozen languages and on over 7,000 stations worldwide, and heard daily by more than 220 million people in 164 countries. Focus on the Family was also carried by about 60 U.S. television stations daily. In 2010, he launched the radio broadcast Family Talk with Dr. James Dobson.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Dobson advocated for "family values"—the instruction of children in heterosexuality and traditional gender roles, which he believed are mandated by the Bible. The goal of this was to promote heterosexual marriage, which he viewed as a cornerstone...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Alan Alda — Contemporary (Born in 1936) (1936): Esteemed American actor celebrated for M*A*S*H and decades of versatile performances.
• Albert Finney — Contemporary (Born in 1936) (1936): Esteemed English actor celebrated for his versatile stage and screen performances.
• Andrew Grove — Contemporary (Born in 1936) (1936): Visionary engineer and CEO who drove Intel to global semiconductor dominance.
• Alasdair MacIntyre — Contemporary (Died in 2025) (2025): Influential Scottish-American philosopher known for virtue ethics and political theory.
• Alfred Brendel — Contemporary (Died in 2025) (2025): Czech-born Austrian pianist, composer, and scholar renowned for Beethoven.
• Assata Shakur — Contemporary (Died in 2025) (2025): Black American activist, revolutionary, and fugitive known for her political militancy.
• Andie MacDowell — Shared historical date (04-21 · Born) (1958): Acclaimed American actress and model known for romantic and dramatic roles.
• Anselm of Canterbury — Shared historical date (04-21 · Died) (1109): Benedictine philosopher and theologian, pivotal figure in medieval Church history.
• Aubrey Beardsley — Shared historical date (08-21 · Born) (1872): Pioneering English illustrator known for decadent, erotic black ink drawings.
• Augustin-Louis Cauchy — Shared historical date (08-21 · Born) (1789): Pioneered real and complex analysis, fundamentally shaping modern mathematics.
• 1936 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1936
• April 21 (04-21) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on April 21
• 2025 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2025
• August 21 (08-21) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on August 21