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1775 Born on 23 April (St George's Day) at
21 Maiden Lane, Covent Garden, London. The son of William
Turner, a barber & wig maker.
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1787 Takes up drawing and painting
watercolour for first time, later his father sells then in
his shop.
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1789-90 Goes to study under Thomas Malton.
Admitted to
Royal Academy School, (RA) exhibits his first
watercolour, The Archbishop's Palace, Lambeth.
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1790 Tours the West Country
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1793 The Society of Arts Awards Turner the
"Greater Silver Pallet", meets and works with life time
friend
Thomas Girtin: goes to South Wales to draw.
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1794 Turner become famous as a topographical
draughtsman, producing original pictures for engravings.
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1795 Tours southern England and south Wales,
and visits Isle of Wight.
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1796 Exhibits the first oil painting along
with 10 watercolours at the RA.
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1799 Studies
Claude Lorrain the artist, which has a great effect on
his early style. Elected Associate Member of Royal Academy.
Moves into Harley Street with Sarah Danby by her has two
daughters.
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1800 Publishes poetry intended to accompany
exhibits at RA.
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1801 Tours Scotland, returns via Lake
District.
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1802 Elected full member of RA at the young
age of 27. Travels to France and Switzerland.
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1804 Sets up a gallery at his Harley Street
home. Death of mother after long illness.
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1805 First exhibition in his own gallery,
London
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1807 Appointed Professor of Perspective
at RA, often uses letters after his Name (P.P.)
Publishes part 1 of
Liber Studiorum. Buys Building plot at Twickenham.
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1809 First of many visits to Petworth, the
seat of Lord Egremont, one of Turner patron.
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1810 Moves to 47 Queen Ann Street West,
Summer visit to Farnley Hall
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1811 First lecture as professor at Royal
Academy. Visits Italy.
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1814 Founder member of Artist General
Benevolent Institution, supports this for many years.
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1815 End of war with France, so able to
travel once again in Europe.
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1815 Paints 'Dido
Building Carthage' refuses five thousand guineas ( a
huge sum of money then) never sells this painting, finally
bequeathed it to the British Nation on his death.
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1817 Summer tour of Netherlands and Rhine,
returns and stays at Rady Castle, then on to friend Walter
Fawkes at Farnley.
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1819 Trip to Italy, the wonderful light here
has an amazing effect on Turner's colours. Does around 25
sketches a day during his 2 month stay, two main paintings
from this trip 'Looking East from the Guidecca, Sunrise' and
'San
Giorgio Maggiore', which must be adjudged as
masterpieces.
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1820 Moves his gallery to Queen Ann Street
after working to enlarge and build new gallery.
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1822 Goes to Edinburgh for the State Visit
of George 1V.
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1823 Commissioned to paint The
Battle of Trafalgar for St James's Palace; this
completed by May 1824.
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1824 The National Gallery was established,
and Turner was on the committee to decide where to house it-
The
National Gallery Trafalgar Square, London being the
chosen place.
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1825 Toured Holland, the Rhine, and Belgium.
Death of true friend Walter Fawkes on October 25th.
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1828 Takes his last class at the RA, ( they
were not very successful anyway, sometimes his loyal father
was the total audience).
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1825 Tour of Holland, Germany and Belgium.
Death of friend Walter Falkes.
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1829 Death of father. Exhibits England
and Wales series of watercolours in London. Visits
France.
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1831 Tour of Scotland. Revises his Will as
he's in poor health during the year.
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1832 Visits Paris, meets with artist
Delacroix.
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1834 Tours Meuse, Moselle and the
Rhine.Spend time with Sophia Booth at Margate.
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1836 Tours France, Switzerland and Val
d'Aosta
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1837 Death of patron Lord Egremond. Resigns
as Professor of Perspective at the RA
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1839 Paints "The
Fighting Tameraire" age 64.
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1840 He met the critic and artist
John Ruskin, who became the great champion of his work.
Visits Venice
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1841 Visits
Switzerland for the first of three visits over the next
three years.
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1844 Meets Charles Dickens. Visits
Switzerland, Heidelberg, and the Rhine.
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1845 Acting President of Royal Academy,
Tours France
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1846 Rents lodgings at Cheyne Walk, Chelsea
and lives rest of his life as a recluse under pseudonym of
Admiral Booth.
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1848 Increasing Infirmity. Revises his Will.
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1850 Last exhibition at the Royal Academy.
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1851 December 19, Turner dies in Chelsea
home. Buried in St Paul's Cathedral. Bequeaths 19,000 works
to Nation.
