| Timeline |
| 1793 |
Born 13 July, Helpston, Northants |
| 1798 |
Attends a local 'Dame School' run by Mrs Bullimore |
| 1800 |
Attends a school at Glinton Church, taught by Mr Seaton |
| 1805 |
Employed as a ploughboy by Mrs Bellairs of Woodcroft Castle |
| 1806 |
Begins working as a potboy for Francis Gregory, the landlord of the Blue Bell Inn, Helpston |
| 1807 |
Works as a gardener at Burghley House |
| 1812 |
Joins Northamptonshire Militia at Oundle |
| 1820 |
Poems Descriptive of Rural Life and Scenery published |
| 1820 |
Marries Martha Turner |
| 1821 |
The Village Minstrel published |
| 1827 |
The Shepherd's Calendar with Village Stories and Other Poems published |
| 1835 |
The Rural Muse published |
| 1837 |
Admitted to High Beach Asylum, Epping Forest, suffering from delusions |
| 1841 |
Is committed to Northampton General Lunatic Asylum and remains there for his last 23 years |
| 1864 |
Dies 20 May of a stroke |
