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Mercury was born Farrokh Bulsara in Stone Town in the British protectorate of Zanzibar on 5 September 1946.
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In 1954, at the age of eight, Mercury was sent to study at St. Peter's School, a British-style boarding school for boys, in Panchgani near Bombay. -
As Zanzibar was a British protectorate until 1963, Mercury was born a British subject
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In February 1963, he moved back to Zanzibar where he joined his parents at their flat.
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In the spring of 1964, Mercury and his family fled to England from Zanzibar to escape the violence of the revolution against the Sultan of Zanzibar and his mainly Arab government.
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After first studying art at Isleworth Polytechnic in West London, Mercury studied graphic art and design at Ealing Art College, graduating with a diploma in 1969.
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In 1969, he joined Liverpool-based band Ibex, later renamed Wreckage, which played "very Hendrix-style, heavy blues". -
On 2 June 1969 was registered a citizen of the United Kingdom and colonies after the family had emigrated to England.
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He joined an Oxford-based band, Sour Milk Sea, but by early 1970 this group had broken up as well. -
In April 1970, Mercury teamed up with guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor, to become lead singer of their band Smile. -
In the early 1970s, Mercury had a long-term relationship with Mary Austin, whom he met through guitarist Brian May. -
They were joined by bassist John Deacon in 1971. -
From the early 1980s Mercury began extensively using guest keyboardists.
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The band was the first ever to play in South American stadiums, breaking worldwide records for concert attendance in the Morumbi Stadium in São Paulo in 1981.
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From 1982 Mercury collaborated with Morgan Fisher. -
One of Mercury's most notable performances with Queen took place at Live Aid in 1985. -
From 1985 onward Mercury collaborated with Mike Moran (in the studio) and Spike Edney (in concert). -
Photographer Denis O'Regan, who captured a definitive pose of Mercury on stage—arched back, knee bent and facing toward the sky—during his final tour with Queen in 1986, commented "Freddie was a once-in-a-lifetime showman".
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Mercury's final live performance with Queen took place on 9 August 1986 at Knebworth Park in England and drew an attendance estimated as high as 200,000. -
He announced his diagnosis the day before his death, from complications from the disease, in 1991 at the age of 45.