| Timeline |
| 1775 |
Born on 23 April in London |
| 1779 |
Studies under Thomas Malton, admitted to Royal Academy |
| 1793 |
The Society of Arts Awards Turner the "Greater Silver Pallet" |
| 1799 |
Elected Associate Member of Royal Academy |
| 1800 |
Publishes poetry intended to accompany exhibits at RA |
| 1802 |
Elected full member of Royal Academy |
| 1804 |
Sets up a gallery at his Harley Street home |
| 1807 |
Appointed Professor of Perspective at Royal Academy, Publishes part 1 of Liber Studiorum |
| 1811 |
Visits Italy |
| 1814 |
Founding member of Artist General Benevolent Institution |
| 1817 |
Summer tour of Netherlands and Rhine |
| 1819 |
Another trip to Italy |
| 1823 |
Commissioned to paint The Battle of Trafalgar for St James's Palace |
| 1825 |
Tours Holland, the Rhine, and Belgium |
| 1831 |
Tour of Scotland |
| 1832 |
Travels to Paris, meets Delacroix |
| 1834 |
Tours Meuse, Moselle and the Rhine |
| 1836 |
Tours France, Switzerland and Val d'Aosta |
| 1837 |
Resigns as Professor of Perspective |
| 1840 |
Meets critic and artist John Ruskin, who becomes the great champion of his work; visits Venice |
| 1841 |
Visits Switzerland |
| 1844 |
Meets Charles Dickens; visits Switzerland, Heidelberg, and the Rhine |
| 1845 |
Acting President of Royal Academy, Tours France |
| 1846 |
Rents lodgings at Cheyne Walk, Chelsea and lives rest of his life as a recluse under pseudonym of Admiral Booth |
| 1850 |
Last exhibition at the Royal Academy |
| 1851 |
Dies 19 December |
