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James Dobson
Apr 28, 2026 10:30 AM

  

James Dobson1

  James Dobson Evangelical leader James Dobson speaking during a political “Justice Sunday” event on April 24, 2005, in Louisville, Kentucky. (more) James Dobson American religious leader Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/biography/James-Dobson Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

  External Websites Ask the Chatbot a Question Also known as: James Clayton Dobson, Jr. Written by Nick Tabor Nick Tabor is a freelance journalist and the author of Africatown: America's Last Slave Ship and the Community It Created. Nick Tabor , Melissa Petruzzello Melissa Petruzzello is Assistant Managing Editor and covers a range of content including plants, algae, and fungi; insects and spiders; and renewable energy and environmental engineering. She also handles... Melissa Petruzzello •All Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Aug 22, 2025 • Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot Quick Facts In full: James Clayton Dobson, Jr. (Show more) Born: April 21, 1936, Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S. (Show more) Died: August 21, 2025, Colorado Springs, Colorado (Show more) { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " Who was James Dobson? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "James Dobson was a child psychologist, radio host, and founder of Focus on the Family, a major Evangelical Christian media empire. A key, controversial figure in the Christian Right movement that emerged in the United States in the 1970s, Dobson advised and supported every Republican president from Ronald Reagan to Donald Trump. He has often been called one of Americau2019s most influential Evangelical leaders." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What is Focus on the Family? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Focus on the Family is a Christian nonprofit organization founded by James Dobson in 1977 and now headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The ministry is devoted to promoting conservative political and religious principles through a variety of media outlets. It seeks to u201Cspread the Gospel of Jesus Christ through a practical outreach to homesu201D and aims to support Christian heterosexual marriages and families." } } ] } Top Questions Who was James Dobson? James Dobson was a child psychologist, radio host, and founder of Focus on the Family, a major Evangelical Christian media empire. A key, controversial figure in the Christian Right movement that emerged in the United States in the 1970s, Dobson advised and supported every Republican president from Ronald Reagan to Donald Trump. He has often been called one of America’s most influential Evangelical leaders.

  What is Focus on the Family? Focus on the Family is a Christian nonprofit organization founded by James Dobson in 1977 and now headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The ministry is devoted to promoting conservative political and religious principles through a variety of media outlets. It seeks to “spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ through a practical outreach to homes” and aims to support Christian heterosexual marriages and families.

  James Dobson (born April 21, 1936, Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S.—died August 21, 2025, Colorado Springs, Colorado) was a child psychologist, a radio host, and the founder of Focus on the Family, a massive Evangelical Christian media empire. Dobson was a key figure in the Christian Right movement that emerged in the United States in the 1970s, and he advised and supported every Republican president from Ronald Reagan to Donald Trump. He has often been called one of America’s most influential Evangelical leaders. Dobson was the only child of James Dobson, Sr., and Myrtle Dobson (née Dillingham). His mother’s father and one ...(100 of 1241 words)

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