diff --git a/gramps/plugins/textreport/descendreport.py b/gramps/plugins/textreport/descendreport.py
index 7a591eb21ce..50cd3ce5f43 100644
--- a/gramps/plugins/textreport/descendreport.py
+++ b/gramps/plugins/textreport/descendreport.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 # This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
 # it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
 # the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
-# (at your option) any later version.
+
 #
 # This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
 # but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
@@ -247,6 +247,7 @@ def __init__(
         numbering,
         showmarriage,
         showdivorce,
+        showlifespan,
         name_display,
         rlocale,
         want_ids,
@@ -260,6 +261,7 @@ def __init__(
         # variables
         self.showmarriage = showmarriage
         self.showdivorce = showdivorce
+        self.showlifespan = showlifespan
         self.want_ids = want_ids
         self._ = rlocale.translation.sgettext  # needed for English
         self._get_date = rlocale.get_date
@@ -286,15 +288,17 @@ def __date_place(self, event):
 
     def dump_string(self, person, family=None):
         """generate a descriptive string for a person"""
-        string = self.__date_place(get_birth_or_fallback(self.database, person))
+        string = ""
 
-        tmp = self.__date_place(get_death_or_fallback(self.database, person))
-        if string and tmp:
-            string += self._(", ")  # Arabic OK
-        string += tmp
+        if self.showlifespan:
+            string += self.__date_place(get_birth_or_fallback(self.database, person))
+            tmp = self.__date_place(get_death_or_fallback(self.database, person))
+            if string and tmp:
+                string += self._(", ")  # Arabic OK
+            string += tmp
 
-        if string:
-            string = " (" + string + ")"
+            if string:
+                string = " (" + string + ")"
 
         if family and self.showmarriage:
             tmp = self.__date_place(get_marriage_or_fallback(self.database, family))
@@ -431,7 +435,7 @@ def recurse(self, level, person, curdepth):
 #
 # ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 class DescendantReport(Report):
-    """Descendant report"""
+    """Descendant Report"""
 
     def __init__(self, database, options, user):
         """
@@ -495,6 +499,7 @@ def __init__(self, database, options, user):
 
         marrs = menu.get_option_by_name("marrs").get_value()
         divs = menu.get_option_by_name("divs").get_value()
+        lifespan = menu.get_option_by_name("lifespan").get_value()
 
         stdoptions.run_name_format_option(self, menu)
 
@@ -506,6 +511,7 @@ def __init__(self, database, options, user):
             obj,
             marrs,
             divs,
+            lifespan,
             self._name_display,
             self._locale,
             self.want_ids,
@@ -588,6 +594,12 @@ def add_menu_options(self, menu):
         divs.set_help(_("Whether to show divorce information in the report."))
         menu.add_option(category_name, "divs", divs)
 
+        lifespan = BooleanOption(_("Show birth and death info"), True)
+        lifespan.set_help(
+                _("Whether to show birth and death information in the report.")
+        )
+        menu.add_option(category_name, "lifespan", lifespan)
+
         dups = BooleanOption(_("Show duplicate trees"), True)
         dups.set_help(_("Whether to show duplicate Family Trees in the report."))
         menu.add_option(category_name, "dups", dups)