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HE WAS a Christian minister and activist who led a groundbreaking civil rights movement - and gave African Americans the courage to speak up against injustice.

But Martin Luther King Jr.'s life was tragically cut short, when he was assassinated at age 39. Here we tell you everything you need to know about King, and how his life and work is remembered today.

When is Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2018?

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is an American federal holiday.

King was born in Atlanta on January 15 - and the holiday falls on the nearest Monday to this date.

Several cities and states began to mark the day in 1971, just three years after his death, and the date became an American federal holiday in 1986.

Hundreds of streets in the United States have been renamed in King's honour, as well as a whole county in Washington State.

Nearly 50 years after his death, King continues to inspire - and President Barack Obama famously asked for his bust to be placed in the Oval Office.

Who was Martin Luther King Jr.?

King was born in 1929 and became a Baptist minister and activist, who led a movement of nonviolent civil disobedience.

He led the Montgomery bus boycott in 1955, where people took a stand against racial segregation by refusing to surrender their seats to white people.

The campaign lasted for a year, and was sparked by the arrest of Rosa Parks - who refused to give up her seat.

King organised several nonviolent protests and marches in the following decade.

He helped to organise the 1963 March on Washington, where King delivered his famous 'I Have a Dream speech' and earned his reputation as one of he greatest public speakers in American history.

More of King's famous quotes include 'injustice is a threat to justice everywhere', and 'our lives begin to end the day we become silent on the things that matter'.

In 1964, King received a Nobel Peace Prize for his nonviolent fight against racial inequality.

In the final years of his life, King's focus changed to include a resistance to widespread poverty and the Vietnam War. The latter alienated many of his liberal allies.

In 1968, King was planning a national occupation of Washington - called the Poor People's Campaign.

King was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4 - and his death was followed by riots in many US cities.

He was shot by a single bullet fired by James Earl Day at 6pm, as he stood on the second floor balcony of the Lorraine Motel.

King died an hour later at St Joseph's Hospital, and Ray was sentenced to 99 years in prison - after pleading guilty to avoid receiving the death penalty.

Ray died in prison in 1998, when he was 70 years old.

How is Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrated?

As Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a federal holiday, civil servants and most school pupils get the day off. Some other companies also opt to have a paid holiday on MLK Day.

It's a day for religious services, educating the kids and looking back on how race relations have improved.

Over the years, it has evolved into a 'day of service' - when Americans are encouraged to volunteer and help those less fortunate.

The US financial markets will be closed for the day.

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