Fyodor Dostoevsky was 59 years old when he died.
Dostoevsky was born on 11 November 1821 under the Gregorian calendar, or 30 October under the Julian calendar then used in Russia. He died on 9 February 1881, also corresponding to 28 January in the Julian calendar, making his age 59.
His final decade was especially productive and influential. He published major works including Demons, A Writer’s Diary, and The Brothers Karamazov, while becoming one of the most prominent literary figures in Russia.
The date conversion can cause confusion when comparing biographies. Russia used the Julian calendar during Dostoevsky’s lifetime, while modern English-language references generally give his dates in the Gregorian calendar. His lifespan is therefore commonly stated as 1821–1881.