| Timeline |
| 1792 |
Born 29 February in Pesaro, Italy; the son of a musician |
| 1802 |
Moves with family to Lugo; takes singing lessons |
| 1806 |
Enrols in the Bologna Liceo Musicale |
| 1810 |
First operatic success with La cambiale di matrimonio |
| 1814 |
Becomes music director of San Carlo Opera, Naples |
| 1816 |
Premiere of comic opera The Barber of Seville |
| 1822 |
Marries his long-term mistress, the singer Isabella Colbran; visits Beethoven in Vienna |
| 1823 |
Successful visit to London |
| 1824 |
Becomes director of the Théâtre-Italien in Paris |
| 1829 |
Premiere in Paris of his last and most ambitious opera, William Tell |
| 1846 |
Marries Olympe Pélissier after the death of Isabella |
| 1855 |
Settles in Paris; builds a villa in the suburb of Passy |
| 1868 |
Dies 13 November |
