Timeline

1892: Tolkien is born 1894: Tolkien’s brother is born 1895: their mother brings them back to England 1896: their father dies, and the mother starts to teach Tolkien Latin, French, and drawing 1900: Tolkien begins to go to King Edward’s grammar school 1903: Tolkien begins to study Greek and Old English 1904: Tolkien’s Mother dies of diabetes, and Tolkien and his brother become wards of father morgan, a priest at Birmingham Oratory 1906 to 1911: Tolkien studies Old English himself,, also begins to make up languages 1908: orphaned boys move to aunt’s home in Birmingham 1909: Tolkien falls in love with Edith Bratt 1910: Edith Bratt leaves Birmingham and Tolkien takes a more active part in his schools debates, also makes speeches, not only in English, but old English and gothic. 1911: in summer Tolkien is an active participant in the “tea club” also he begins his first term at oxford 1914: Tolkien finds Edith Bratt, world war 1 is declared, and Tolkien returns to oxford. 1915: Tolkien is awarded a first class honors degree in English language and literature. 1916: Tolkien marries Edith Bratt in warwick and then goes to war sees some action, then returns to England with shell shock. 1917: begins to write the Simarillon. as well as the birth of his first son, john. 1918: Tolkien becomes a full lieutenant, moves to staffordshire, and returns to the family in oxford when the war is over, being appointer as assistant lexicographer, Tolkien joins the staff of new English dictionary and works on the W section 1919: Tolkien works as a freelance tutor. 1920: Tolkien is appointed reader in English language at Leeds university, also his second son is born, named Michael 1924: Tolkien becomes a professor of the English language, as well as birth of third child, Christopher 1925: “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” is published by Tolkien 1926: Tolkien meets CS Lewis, writer of “Chronicles of Narnia.” 1929: birth of fourth child and only daughter; Priscilla 1930:Tolkien becomes one of the founding members of “The Inklings” and also starts to write “the Hobbit” 1936: Tolkien finishes the hobbit, and gives the lecture “beowulf” 1937: “the hobbit” is published, and The Lord of the Rings is started 1939: Tolkien gives his lecture “Fairy stories” 1940: a bomb explosion destroys part of a warehouse with part of “the Hobbit” in it. 1945: “Leaf by Niggle” is published, and Tolkien is given the position of a professor of the english language. 1947: a draft of tLotR is sent to publishers 1948: tLotR is completed. 1949: Farmer Giles of Ham is published 1951: the new edition of “the Hobbit” is published 1954: “the fellowship of the ring”, and the “two towers” are published 1955: publication of the third part of the lord of the rigs. 1959: Tolkien retires 1962: “the adventures of tom Bombadil is published 1964: “tree and leaf” gets published 1965: american editions of TLotR are published and a campus cult for the novel begins 1966: the third edition of the hobbit is published 1967: “Smith of Wooton Major” is published 1968: Tolkien’s family moces to Poole near Bournemouth 1971: Edith tolkien dies, november 29th, 82 years of age 1972: tolkien returns to oxford and recieves the “CBE” from the queen (the website did not elaborate on just what a “CBE” is) 1973: Tolkien dies on september 2nd, aged 81 years old ( information from http://www.lord-of-the-rings.org/Tolkien/chronology.html)