Born on Nov. 25, 1960, John F. Kennedy Jr. was a shining figure in New York City society, garnering the hopes of millions of Americans that he would one day be the next president of the United States. Never far from the spotlight, one of Kennedy Jr.'s most iconic photos was taken on his third birthday, when he saluted his father's casket just days after his assassination. As he grew, his prominence only skyrocketed. For four years, Kennedy Jr. served as a Manhattan assistant district attorney, and sought to expand reader's political knowledge with his magazine, 'George.' On July 16, 1999, Kennedy Jr. tragically died in a plane crash along with his wife Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy and her sister Lauren Bessette. Take a look back at his life from his time in the spotlight as the son of President Kennedy to his emergence as "America's prince."
In this Dec. 8, 1960, file photo, President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy pose at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington with their son, John F. Kennedy Jr., following a baptism for the infant. The younger Kennedy was born Nov. 25.
John F. Kennedy Jr. was born on Nov. 25, 1960, just over two weeks after his father was elected president. The youngster grew up in the public eye, spending the first three years of his life living in the White House. In this iconic photo, a two-year-old John Jr. plays under President Kennedy’s desk in the Oval Office.
Growing up in the White House, JFK Jr. certainly did not have a typical childhood. The First Son is pictured here holding his father’s hand outside the White House in 1963.
JFK Jr. grew up with a sister three years his senior, Caroline, right. John F. Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy tragically had a stillborn daughter before John Jr. and Caroline were born, and also had another son who only lived for two days. Jackie Kennedy is pictured here riding horses with her two children, which was a popular family activity.
John F. Kennedy Jr. salutes the casket of President Kennedy outside St. Matthews Cathedral following the funeral mass in Washington on Nov. 25, 1963. His mother, Jacqueline, and uncle Robert stand beside him.
Caroline and John Kennedy Jr. prepare to take a flight to Newport, R.I. Jacqueline Kennedy saw them off and then returned to her Manhattan apartment. Shel joined the kids later that week to attend the wedding of her half-sister, Janet Auchincloss.
John F. Kennedy Jr. and his sister Caroline at the grave of their uncle, Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on June 6, 1970, where a mass was held on the second anniversary of his assassination.
John F. Kennedy Jr. photographed while leaving his building, 1040 Fifth Ave., accompanied by his sister, Caroline, and mother, Jacqueline Onassis, in 1973 to spend the holiday weekend and the 10th anniversary of the death of President John F. Kennedy at their country home in New Jersey. John would be 13 on Sunday, and Caroline would be 16 on Tuesday.
From his childhood until his untimely death, John F. Kennedy Jr. remained in the spotlight and was heavily covered by the media, despite Jackie being very protective of her children. After RFK was killed, she fled to Greece with her children, fearing for their lives.
John Kennedy Jr. chats with a friend, Meg, in 1977.
John F. Kennedy Jr. is pictured with a Heineken in hand at a movie premiere in 1977.
In this Sept. 10, 1979, file photo, John Kennedy Jr. waits in the registration line at Brown University in Providence, R.I., to register for his first year of college.
John F. Kennedy Jr. briefly tried his hand at acting and appeared in several plays during his time at Brown University. In 1980, his freshman year, Kennedy played the role of Bonario in the play “Volpone.” JFK Jr. had a cameo in an episode of the TV show “Murphy Brown,” but did not pursue the profession due to his mother’s disapproval.
In 1983, John F. Kennedy Jr. graduated from Brown University with a degree in American Studies. He is pictured here lounging in the grass wearing his graduation robe after earning his diploma.
In 1988, John F. Kennedy Jr. was named “Sexiest Man Alive” by People magazine. Kennedy tragically died only 11 years later in a plane crash.
In 1989, John F. Kennedy Jr. graduated from New York University Law School with a J.D. degree. He passed the bar exam on the third try and worked for the next four years as a prosecutor for a Manhattan district attorney.
John Kennedy Jr. graduated from NYU Law School on May 20, 1989. His mother Jackie, left, and his sister Caroline pose for a picture with the graduate after the ceremony.
John F. Kennedy Jr. heading to work on his first day as a Manhattan assistant district attorney in 1989.
Fighting the crowd like everyone else, John F. Kennedy Jr. was photographed squeezing into a crowded subway car after his first day on the job as assistant district attorney for Manhattan on Aug. 21, 1989.
John F. Kennedy Jr., left, Andrew Cuomo and Kerry Kennedy, RFK’s daughter and Cuomo’s date, arrive at Maguire’s Cafe Second Ave. and 42d St. in 1989 for a fundraiser for H.E.L.P., young Cuomo’s organization that builds low-income housing.
John Kennedy Jr. is pictured at a party for Kelly Klein’s book, “Pools,” in 1992.
During the time before he was married, JFK Jr. had some high-profile relationships, including Madonna, Sarah Jessica Parker and actress Daryl Hannah. He dated Hannah on and off for over half a decade. They are pictured here being followed by paparazzi on their way to the wedding of Ted Kennedy Jr. in 1993.
John F. Kennedy Jr. and girlfriend Daryl Hannah watch a game between the New York Knicks and the Houston Rockets at Madison Square Garden on June 12, 1994.
John Kennedy Jr. reads a New York Daily News paper at a basketball game between the New York Knicks and New Jersey Nets at Madison Square Garden on May 1, 1994.
JFK Jr. pictured at the U.S. Open Men’s singles final between Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras on Sept. 10, 1995.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, left, John Kennedy Jr. and Maria Schriver pictured at a party after the American Ballet Theatre Spring Gala at Lincoln Center in 1995.
John Kennedy Jr. and his sister Caroline attend the American Ballet Theatre Spring Gala at Lincoln Center in 1995.
Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy and John F. Kennedy Jr. pictured as they leave their apartment in Tribeca to have breakfast at a cafe in 1996.
After their marriage, media interest in JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy intensified and paparazzi followed them wherever they went. Carolyn found it very difficult to handle the constant public attention and she began taking anti-depressant medication.
John Kennedy Jr. arrives with his wife Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy at the Municipal Art Society gala at Grand Central Terminal to celebrate the terminal’s renovation in 1998.
John F. Kennedy Jr. and his sister, Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg, pictured at the Waldorf-Astoria where they announced they are giving $110,000 to the Jackie Robinson Scholarship Foundation in 1999.
On July 16, 1999, JFK Jr., Carolyn and her sister were flying to Martha’s Vineyard on a private plane piloted by Kennedy. When they did not arrive at their destination as scheduled, a search party began looking for them, and after a while, with no success, they were presumed dead. Their bodies were recovered on July 21.
The July 22, 1999, front page of the New York Daily News reads “BURIAL AT SEA- Ted Kennedy makes sad voyage to bring home bodies. Ocean to be final resting place for JFK Jr.”
People bring flowers and light candles at the building where John F. Kennedy Jr. lived with his wife Carolyn Bessett Kennedy after their deaths in 1999.
Flowers pile up outside the apartment building where John F. Kennedy Jr. and his wife, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, lived at 20 North Moore St. in Tribeca, as mourners pay their respects to the lost couple.
The nation mourned the tragic death of JFK Jr. as a public memorial mass was held at Old St. Patrick’s Church in New York City. A private invitation-only memorial was also held at the Church of St. Thomas More on July 23, 1999.
