He was born in 1796 in Agra, India (then under the rule of the Mughal Empire). His father was Mirza Abdullah Beg Khan and his uncle was Mirza Nasrullah Beg Khan. His father Mirza Abdullah Beg Khan was an important Mughal noble who was prominent in the Mughal court. Mirza Ghalib become orphaned when he was just 5 years old. He lived with his uncle for 4 years, when his uncle too died. 