William S. Burroughs

American novelist, short story writer, essayist, painter, and spoken word performer (1914–1997)
Person human Q188176
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William S. Burroughs

Summary

William S. Burroughs is a human[1]. He was born in St. Louis[2]. He was born on February 5, 1914[3]. He died in Lawrence[4]. He died on August 2, 1997[5]. He worked as a writer[6], poet[7], novelist[8], essayist[9], and painter[10]. He has Wikipedia articles in 27 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[11]

Key Facts

  • William S. Burroughs was born in St. Louis[2].
  • William S. Burroughs died in Lawrence[4].
  • William S. Burroughs was born on February 5, 1914[3].
  • William S. Burroughs died on August 2, 1997[5].
  • Burial took place at Bellefontaine Cemetery[12].
  • William S. Burroughs's father was Mortimer P. Burroughs[13].
  • William S. Burroughs's mother was Laura Hammond Lee Burroughs[14].
  • Among William S. Burroughs's spouses was Joan Vollmer[15].
  • A child of William S. Burroughs was William S. Burroughs Jr.[16].
  • William S. Burroughs held citizenship in United States[17].
  • English was William S. Burroughs's native language[18].
  • William S. Burroughs worked as a writer[6].
  • William S. Burroughs worked as a poet[7].
  • William S. Burroughs worked as a novelist[8].
  • William S. Burroughs worked as an essayist[9].
  • William S. Burroughs worked as a painter[10].
  • William S. Burroughs worked as a screenwriter[19].
  • William S. Burroughs's field of work was satire[20].
  • Among William S. Burroughs's employers was Naropa University[21].
  • William S. Burroughs's education included a stint at Harvard University[22].
  • William S. Burroughs was educated at John Burroughs School[23].
  • A notable work attributed to William S. Burroughs is Junkie[24].
  • A notable work attributed to William S. Burroughs is Nova Express[25].
  • A notable work attributed to William S. Burroughs is Cities of the Red Night[26].
  • A notable work attributed to William S. Burroughs is The Place of Dead Roads[27].

Body

Origins and Family

Born in St. Louis[2], William S. Burroughs… he was born on February 5, 1914[3]. His father was Mortimer P. Burroughs[13]. His mother was Laura Hammond Lee Burroughs[14]. English was his native language[18].

Education

Educated at Harvard University[22], a private university[28], in United States[29], founded in 1636[30], headquartered in Cambridge[31] and John Burroughs School[23], a school[32], in United States[33], founded in 1923[34], headquartered in St. Louis[35].

Career and Affiliations

Recorded occupations include writer[6], poet[7], novelist[8], essayist[9], painter[10], and screenwriter[19]. William S. Burroughs's field of work was satire[20]. Among his employers was Naropa University[21].

Works and Contributions

Notable works include Junkie[24], a literary work[36], founded in 1951[37]; Nova Express[25], a written work[38], founded in 1964[39]; Cities of the Red Night[26], a written work[40]; The Place of Dead Roads[27], a written work[41]; and Naked Lunch[42], a literary work[43].

Recognition

Awards received include Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres[44], a grade of an order[45], in France[46] and Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres‎[47], a grade of an order[48], in France[49].

Personal Life

Among William S. Burroughs's spouses was Joan Vollmer[15]. A child of him was William S. Burroughs Jr.[16].

Death and Burial

William S. Burroughs died on August 2, 1997[5]. He died in Lawrence[4]. The cause of death was myocardial infarction[50]. Burial took place at Bellefontaine Cemetery[12].

Why It Matters

William S. Burroughs has Wikipedia articles in 27 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[11] He is known by 66 alternative names across languages and contexts.[51]

He has been cited as an influence by Hal Duncan[52], a poet[53], b. 1971[54], of United Kingdom[55], awarded the Tähtivaeltaja Award[56]; Alan Moore[57], a comics writer[58], b. 1953[59], of United Kingdom[60], awarded the Prometheus Award - Hall of Fame[61], specialised in comics[62]; Nick Land[63], a philosopher[64], b. 1962[65], of United Kingdom[66], specialised in philosophy[67]; Ken Kesey[68], a writer[69], 1935–2001[70], of United States[71], specialised in literature[72]; Thomas Ligotti[73], a writer[74], b. 1953[75], of United States[76], awarded the British Fantasy Award for Best Anthology or Collection[77]; and Mayra Dias Gomes[78], a novelist[79], b. 1987[80], of Brazil[81].

Works attributed to him include And the Hippos Were Boiled in Their Tanks[82], Naked Lunch[83], The Soft Machine[84], Junkie[85], Blade Runner[86], and The Wild Boys[87].

FAQs

Where was William S. Burroughs born?

William S. Burroughs was born in St. Louis[2].

Where did William S. Burroughs die?

William S. Burroughs died in Lawrence[4].

Who were William S. Burroughs's parents?

William S. Burroughs's father was Mortimer P. Burroughs[13]. William S. Burroughs's mother was Laura Hammond Lee Burroughs[14].

Who was William S. Burroughs married to?

William S. Burroughs's spouses include Joan Vollmer[15].

What did William S. Burroughs do for work?

William S. Burroughs worked as writer[6], poet[7], novelist[8], essayist[9], and painter[10].

Where did William S. Burroughs go to school?

William S. Burroughs was educated at Harvard University[22] and John Burroughs School[23].

What awards did William S. Burroughs receive?

Honors received include Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres[44] and Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres‎[47].

Who did William S. Burroughs influence?

William S. Burroughs has been cited as an influence by Hal Duncan[52], Alan Moore[57], Nick Land[63], and Ken Kesey[68].

References

Programmatic citations — every numbered marker resolves to a verifiable graph row below.

Direct Wikidata claims

  1. [2] . ZKM Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  2. [4] . Union List of Artist Names. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  3. [13] . Geni.com. wikidata.org.
  4. [14] . wikidata.org.
  5. [15] . wikidata.org.
  6. [17] . LIBRIS. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  7. [16] . wikidata.org.
  8. [22] . wikidata.org.
  9. [23] . wikidata.org.
  10. [20] . wikidata.org.
  11. [18] . wikidata.org.
  12. [6] . The Fine Art Archive. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  13. [7] . The Fine Art Archive. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  14. [8] . wikidata.org.
  15. [9] . wikidata.org.
  16. [10] . Union List of Artist Names. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  17. [19] . wikidata.org.
  18. [21] . wikidata.org.
  19. [12] . wikidata.org.
  20. [44] . wikidata.org.
  21. [47] . www03.zkm.de. Retrieved . www03.zkm.de. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  22. [50] . wikidata.org.
  23. [3] . BnF authorities. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  24. [5] . BnF authorities. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  25. [24] . wikidata.org.
  26. [25] . Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  27. [26] . wikidata.org.
  28. [27] . wikidata.org.
  29. [42] . wikidata.org.

Inverse relationships (entities pointing at this one)

  1. [52] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  2. [57] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  3. [63] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  4. [68] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  5. [73] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  6. [78] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  7. [82] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  8. [83] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  9. [84] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  10. [85] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  11. [86] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  12. [87] . wikidata.org. → on this site

Inline context (facts about related entities)

  1. [28] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  2. [29] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  3. [30] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  4. [31] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  5. [32] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  6. [33] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  7. [34] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  8. [35] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  9. [45] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  10. [46] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  11. [48] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  12. [49] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  13. [36] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  14. [37] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  15. [38] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  16. [39] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  17. [40] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  18. [41] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  19. [43] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  20. [53] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  21. [54] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  22. [55] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  23. [56] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  24. [58] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  25. [59] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  26. [60] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  27. [61] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  28. [62] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  29. [64] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  30. [65] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  31. [66] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  32. [67] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  33. [69] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  34. [70] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  35. [71] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  36. [72] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  37. [74] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  38. [75] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  39. [76] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  40. [77] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  41. [79] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  42. [80] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  43. [81] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site

Class ancestry

  1. [1] . Wikidata. wikidata.org.

Aggregate / graph-position facts

  1. [11] . Wikidata sitelinks. wikidata.org.
  2. [51] . Wikidata aliases. wikidata.org.

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Use these citations when quoting this entity in research, articles, AI prompts, or wherever provenance matters. We aggregate Wikidata + Wikipedia + authoritative open-data sources; the stitched, scored, cross-referenced view is what 4ort.xyz contributes.

APA 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph. (2026). William S. Burroughs. Retrieved April 10, 2026, from https://4ort.xyz/entity/william-s-burroughs
MLA “William S. Burroughs.” 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph, 4ort.xyz, 10 Apr. 2026, https://4ort.xyz/entity/william-s-burroughs.
BibTeX @misc{4ortxyz_william-s-burroughs_2026, author = {{4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph}}, title = {{William S. Burroughs}}, year = {2026}, url = {https://4ort.xyz/entity/william-s-burroughs}, note = {Accessed: 2026-04-10}}
LLM prompt According to 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph (aggregator of Wikidata, Wikipedia, and authoritative open-data sources): William S. Burroughs — https://4ort.xyz/entity/william-s-burroughs (retrieved 2026-04-10)

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Rolling log of changes to this entity's Wikidata record. Values shown reflect the current state of each edited property — follow the history link to see the precise diff for any edit.

  1. 4w ago · Jindřich Rubeš · 2026-06-11 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Svkkl authority id p0002048-Burroughs-William-S-19141997
    "/* wbcreateclaim-create:1| */ [[Property:P9322]]: p0002048-Burroughs-William-S-19141997, [[:toollabs:quickstatements/#/batch/259494|batch #259494]]"
  2. 7w ago · Sj1mor · 2026-05-23 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Plaque image Beat Hotel plaque - 9 rue Gît-le-Coeur, Paris 6.jpg
    "/* wbsetclaim-create:2||1 */ [[Property:P1801]]: Beat Hotel plaque - 9 rue Gît-le-Coeur, Paris 6.jpg"
  3. 8w ago · Epìdosis · 2026-05-19 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Image last checked license
    Image purged license
    Image unavailable reason
    Image purged at
    + 2 other properties edited (see Wikidata diff for full list)
    "/* wbeditentity-update:0| */ QuickStatements 3.0 [[:toollabs:qs-dev/batch/32074|batch #32074]]: import P21 and P106 from GND (21)"
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