| Timeline |
| 1830 |
Born in London, 5 December |
| 1848 |
Becomes engaged to James Collinson, but breaks it off because he converts to Catholicism |
| 1850 |
Has several poems published in The Germ under the pseudonym Ellen Alleyne |
| 1853 |
Attempts to support the family by starting a day school at Frome, Somerset with her mother (following her father's illness and subsequent retirement) |
| 1854 |
Returns to London with her mother |
| 1862 |
Goblin Market and Other Poems published |
| 1866 |
Prince's Progress and Other Poems published |
| 1866 |
Refuses Charles Cayley's hand because he is not a Christian, though she is in love with him |
| 1870 |
Commonplace and Other Short Stories published |
| 1870s |
Works for the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge |
| 1871 |
Stricken with Graves' disease |
| 1872 |
Sing-Song: a Nursery Rhyme Book published |
| 1881 |
A Pageant and Other Poems published |
| 1885 |
Time Flies published |
| 1894 |
Dies of cancer 29 December |
