Short answers, pulled from the story.
Vincent Willem van Gogh was born on the 30th of March 1853 in the village of Groot-Zundert, located in the Dutch province of North Brabant. He entered a world where his father served as a minister for the Dutch Reformed Church and his mother came from a prosperous family in The Hague.
During his lifetime Van Gogh created approximately 2,100 artworks including around 860 oil paintings. Most were produced in the last two years of his life when he worked with incredible speed.
On the 27th of July 1890 Van Gogh shot himself in the chest with a revolver while walking near Auvers-sur-Oise. He died in the early hours of Tuesday the 29th of July after suffering an infection from the injury.
The most comprehensive record of Van Gogh's life exists within hundreds of letters exchanged with his younger brother Theo spanning from 1872 until Vincent's death in 1890. Theo kept all of Vincent's letters after both had died ensuring their survival for future generations.
Only one painting sold during his lifetime: The Red Vineyard which fetched a modest sum. His work began attracting critical attention during the final year of his life when Albert Aurier praised him as a genius.