| Timeline |
| 1874 |
Born 20 October, in Danbury, Connecticut |
| 1886 |
At 12 was playing drums in his father's band |
| 1887 |
By 13 he was already composing and was church organist |
| 1889 |
At 15 he composed his Variations on America which included a variation in three keys and is one of the first polytonal works |
| 1893 |
Leaves Danbury for New Haven, attends Hopkins Grammar School |
| 1894 |
Studies under Horatio Parker at Yale University |
| 1898 |
Enters the insurance business, works as organist in two large churches, and composes in his off hours |
| 1906 |
Forms his own insurance company |
| 1906 |
Manic work pace leads to physical and mental breakdown
|
| 1908 |
Marries Harmony Twichell in June |
| 1915 |
Chronic diabetes and hand tremor force him to give up composition |
| 1917 |
Charles and Harmony adopt a child |
| 1918 |
Has a heart attack and never fully recovers |
| 1918 |
Has a serious heart attack in October |
| 1930 |
Retires from insurance company (worth $40 million)- uses the proceeds to support the cause of progressive music all over the U.S.
|
| 1947 |
Wins the Pulitzer Prize for his Third Symphony |
| 1954 |
Died in May |
