| Timeline |
| 1847 |
Born 15 October in NYC |
| 1864 |
Studies at the Free Academy until 1866 |
| 1866 |
Studies briefly at the Cooper Union |
| 1868 |
Exhibits at the National Academy of Design |
| 1869 |
First trip west |
| 1869 |
Graduates from the College of the City of New York |
| 1872 |
Second trip west |
| 1876 |
Returns to NYC |
| 1877 |
Marries Cora Bailey |
| 1891 |
Suffers mental collapse |
| 1899 |
Confined to an asylum until 1916 |
| 1913 |
Moonlight sells for a record $13,900 |
| 1913 |
Elected Associate of National Academy |
| 1916 |
Elected full membership in National Academy |
| 1916 |
Mrs. Van Rensselaer Adams obtains legal guardianship of Blakelock and establishes benevolent fund in his name |
| 1916 |
Toledo Museum purchases Brook by Moonlight for $20,000 |
| 1919 |
Dies 9 August in an asylum near Middletown, NY |
