Chronology of Samuel Johnson's Life (18/9/1709 —13/12/1784) by B H Bronson

DateEvent
18/9/1709Samuel Johnson born at Lichfield
1719-1725Attended Lichfield Grammar School under John Hunter, who "whipt me very well. Without that, Sir, I should have done nothing."
1725-1726At school, formed lifelong friendships with Edmund Hector and John (afterward Rev. Dr.) Taylor. Attended Stourbridge Grammar School, Worcestershire
31/10/1728Entered Pembroke College, Oxford
1731Autumn —Left Oxford without a degree
December —Father, Michael Johnson, died
1732Spring —Appointed usher (undermaster) in Market Bosworth School, Leicestershire, found it "complicated misery" and resigned post in July.
1735Finally published the translation of Father Lobo's Voyage to Abyssinia, he had undertaken but kept the press waiting until persuaded to continue by his friend Hector. Thereupon, "he lay in bed with the book . . . before him, and dictated while Hector wrote."
July 9, Married Mrs. Elizabeth Porter, of Birmingham, at Derby
1736Early in the year opened a private school at Edial, Staffordshire, with six to eight pupils, among them David Garrick.
1737In March went up to London with Garrick, taking turns riding on a single horse. Worked at his unfinished tragedy, Irene, in Greenwich, during the summer. Brought his wife to London, late in the year.
1738Worked for Edward Cave on The Gentleman's Magazine, from early in the year and became acquainted with Richard Savage. In May published London, a Poem, in Imitation of the Third Satire of Juvenal
1740-1743Wrote up the Parliamentary Debates for The Gentleman's Magazine
1744February —published An Account of the Life of Mr. Richard Savage
1745April —published Miscellaneous Observations on the Tragedy of Macbeth, with proposals for a new edition of Shakespeare
1747September 15 —wrote prologue for Garrick's opening of Drury Lane Theatre. Late in the year published Plan of a Dictionary of the English Language, addressed to the Earl of Chesterfield
1749January — published The Vanity of Human Wishes. The Tenth Satire of Juvenal Imitated by Samuel Johnson, his first signed work.
February 6th —Irene: A Tragedy produced by Garrick, and eight succeeding nights, and published soon thereafter.
20/3/1750-14/3/1752Wrote and published The Rambler, (208 numbers, of which he wrote all but four and part of a fifth).
28/3/1752His wife died
1753-1754Contributed two dozen essays to The Adventurer,
1755April —published A Dictionary of the English Language
1756June — published Proposals for Printing the Dramatick Works of William Shakespeare
25/4/1758-5/4/1760Wrote and published The Idler, (104 numbers, of which he wrote all but twelve)
1759January —His mother died
April —published The Prince of Abissinia (i.e., Rasselas)
1762Spring —was granted a royal pension of 300 pounds a year
16/5/1763First met Boswell, who "came from Scotland," in Thomas Davies' back parlor
1764Spring —with Reynolds, Burke, Goldsmith, Beauclerk, Langton, and three others, established the Literary Club
1764 or 1765Became acquainted with Mr. and Mrs. Henry Thrale
1765October —published The Plays of William Shakespeare
1770January —Published The False Alarm
1773August to November —toured Scotland and the Hebrides with Boswell
1774November —published The Patriot
1775January —published A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland
March —published Taxation no Tyranny
March 30 —received from Oxford University the degree, Doctor in Civil Law
September to November —visited France with the Thrales
1779-1781.Published Prefaces, Biographical and Critical, to the Works of the English Poets, afterward known as The Lives of the Poets
13/12/1784Died