| 1892: |
John Reuel Tolkien born 3rd January of Brittish parents in Bloemfontein, South Africa. Brother, Hilary born 1894. |
| 1895: |
Mother (Mabel Tolkien) takes children back to Birmingham, England. Father (Arthur Tolkien) dies in South Africa. |
| 1900: |
Ronald begins to attend King Edward's Grammar school. |
| 1904: |
Mother dies of diabetes, aged 34. |
| 1908: |
Orphaned boys move to Aunt's home in Birmingham. |
| 1913: |
Ronald begins first term at Oxford. |
| 1914: |
Ronald is betrothed to child hood sweetheart Edith Bratt. Great War declared. Returns to Oxford to complete his degree. |
| 1915: |
Awarded First Class Honours degree in English language and Literature. - Commissioned in Lancashire Fusiiers. |
| 1916: |
Married Edith Bratt. Goes to war in France. Sees action on the Somme as second lieutenant. Returns to England suffering from shell shock. |
| 1917: |
While convalescing begins writing "The Simarillion". Birth of first son, John. |
| 1918: |
Promoted to full lieutenant, posted to Staffordshire. War ends. Returns with family to Oxford, joins staff of New English Dictionary. |
| 1919: |
Works as a freelance tutor in Oxford |
| 1920: |
Appointed Reader in English Language at Leeds University. Birth of second son, Michael. |
| 1924: |
Becomes professor of English Language at Leeds. Third son, Christopher, is born. |
| 1925: |
Tolkien and E.V. Gordon publish "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight". Tolkien elected Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford. |
| 1926: |
Friendship with C.S. Lewis begins |
| 1929: |
Fourth child, Priscilla, is born. |
| 1936: |
Tolkien completes "The Hobbit". Delivers his lecture "Beowulf": "The Monsters and the Critics". |
| 1937: |
"The Hobbit" is published. Tolkien begins to write a sequel, which eventually becomes "The Lord of the Rings". |
| 1939: |
Tolkien delivers his lecture on "Fairy stories". Works on "The Lord of the Rings" fitfully throughout the war years. |
| 1945: |
War ends. Tolkien elected Merton professor of English Language and Literature at Oxford. |
| 1947: |
Draft of "The Lord of the Rings" sent to publishers. |
| 1948: |
"The Lord of the Rings" is completed. |
| 1949: |
Publication of "Farmer Giles of Ham". |
| 1954: |
Publication of "The Lord of the Rings", volumes One and Two. |
| 1955: |
Publication of "The Lord of the Rings", volume Three. |
| 1959: |
Tolkien retires his professor ship. |
| 1962: |
Publication of "The adventures of Tom Bombadil". |
| 1964: |
Publication of "Tree and Leaf". |
| 1965: |
American paper back editions of "The Lord of the Rings" are published and campus cult of the novel begins. |
| 1967: |
Publication of "Smith of Wooton Major", and "The Road goes ever on". |
| 1968: |
The Tolkiens move to Poole near Bournemouth. |
| 1971: |
Edith Tolkien dies, aged 82. |
| 1972: |
Tolkien returns to Oxford. Receives CBE from the Queen. |
| 1972: |
Tolkien returns to Oxford. Receives CBE from the Queen. |
| 1973: |
2nd September, J.R.R. Tolkien dies aged 81. |
