| Timeline |
| 1860 |
Born 19 March in Salem, Illinois |
| 1874 |
Leaves Baptist church, becomes a Presbyterian |
| 1878 |
Enters the Illinois College at Jacksonville |
| 1883 |
Receives law degree from Union College in Chicago |
| 1884 |
Marries Mary Baird Bryan 1 October |
| 1885 |
Daughter Ruth born |
| 1887 |
Moves from Illinois to Lincoln, Nebraska |
| 1890 |
Son William J., Jr. born; serves on the Committee on Ways and Means |
| 1891 |
Daughter Grace born |
| 1891 |
Elected U.S. Congressman from Nebraska |
| 1893 |
Re-elected U.S. Congressman from Nebraska |
| 1895 |
Editor of The Omaha World-Herald, lecture circuit |
| 1896 |
Runs for President of the United States, but is defeated by William McKinley |
| 1898 |
Serves as U.S. Army Colonel in Spanish-American War |
| 1900 |
Runs for president again, but is defeated again by McKinley |
| 1901 |
Founds The Commoner (publisher for until 1913) |
| 1908 |
Runs for president for the third time, but is defeated by William Howard Taft |
| 1913 |
Serves as Secretary of State under Woodrow Wilson |
| 1915 |
Resigns as Secretary of State in protest over 'war preparedness' |
| 1919 |
Supports 18th Amendment (temperance) |
| 1920 |
Supports 19th Amendment (women's suffrage) |
| 1921 |
Moves to Florida; The Menace of Darwinism published |
| 1925 |
Lead prosecuting attorney for the State of Tennessee in the "Scopes Monkey Trial"; dies 26 July, just days after the trial |
