1697 Born in London.
1708 Hogarth’s father is consigned to the Fleet Prison as a debtor.
1712 His father is released from the Fleet.
1713 Hogarth becomes apprenticed to an engraver.
1720 Has his own engraving business. Enrols in the academy in St Martin’s Lane.
1724 One of his early engravings is pirated. The St Martin’s Lane academy having closed, Hogarth joins James Thornhill’s free academy.
1729 Marries James Thornhill’s daughter.
1732 Hogarth publishes engravings of his first ‘moral progress’ series, the Harlot’s Progress, based on six oil paintings. It is a great success but pirate copies appear almost immediately.
1735 Sets up a new academy in St Martin’s Lane. This became the centre of a circle of likeminded artists. Lobbies Parliament (successfully) urging the passage of a bill establishing copyright for print makers. Publication of the engravings of Rake’s Progress.
1740 Paints the portrait of his friend Thomas Coram to mark the inauguration of his Foundling Hospital.
1748 Hogarth travels to France with other artists but is arrested as a spy while sketching in Calais. His xenophobic response is to paint O the Roast Beef of Old England.
1751 Publishes engravings of Beer Street and Gin Lane.
1753 Publishes his theories on art in The Analysis of Beauty.
1757 Becomes Sergeant Painter to the King.
1761 Elected to the committee of the Society of Artists of Great Britain.
1764 Dies at his house in Leicester Fields, London.
1731 The Beggars Opera London, Tate
1732 The Rakes Progress (eight paintings) London, Sir John Soane’s Museum
1740 Captain Thomas Coram London, Foundling Hospital
1742 The Graham Children London, National Gallery
1743 Marriage à la Mode, comprising six scenes London, National Gallery
1745 Self-portrait with a Pug London, Tate
1745 David Garrick as Richard III Liverpool, Walker Art Gallery
1748 O the Roast Beef of Old England London, Tate
1750–55 The Artist’s Servants London, Tate
1759 The Shrimp Girl London, National Gallery