Henry D. Thoreau: A Brief Chronology

1817                 Born 12 July in Concord, Massachusetts, to John and Cynthia
                         (Dunbar) Thoreau.

1828-33            Attended Concord Academy.

1833-37            Attended Harvard College.

1837                  Taught briefly at Concord Center School (public).

1838-41             Conducted a private school in Concord with his elder brother John.

1839                  Went on boating excursion on Concord and Merrimack rivers with 
                          his older brother John.

1840                  Poems and essays published in Dial.

1841-43             Lived with Ralph Waldo Emerson and his family in Concord.

1842                  Older brother John died suddenly of lockjaw; “Natural History of 
                          Massachusetts” published.

1843                  “A Walk to Wachusett” and “A Winter Walk” published; tutored 
                          William Emerson’s children on Staten Island, New York.

1844                  Accidentally set fire to woods in Concord with Edward Hoar.

1845-47             Lived in small house on shore of Walden Pond.

1846                 Traveled to Maine woods; spent one night in jail for refusing to pay
                          poll tax.

1847-48            Lived in Emerson household while Ralph Waldo Emerson lectured in 
                         England.

1848                  Began career as professional lecturer; “Ktaadn and the Maine
                         Woods” published.

1849                A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers and “Resistance to 
                        Civil Government” published; traveled to Cape Cod; older sister 
                        Helen died, apparently of tuberculosis.

1850                Traveled to Cape Cod and Quebec.

1853                Traveled to Maine woods; portions of “A Yankee in Canada” 
                        published.

1854                Walden; or, Life in the Woods and “Slavery in Massachusetts” 
                        published.

1855                Portions of “Cape Cod” published; traveled to Cape Cod.

1856                Surveyed Eagleswood Community near Perth Amboy, New Jersey.

1857                Traveled to Cape Cod and Maine Woods; “Chesuncook” published.

1858                Traveled to White Mountains in New Hampshire.

1859                Father John died; “A Plea for Capt. John Brown” published.

1860                “The Succession of Forest Trees” published.

1861                Traveled to Minnesota with Horace Mann, Jr., in effort to regain
                        health.

1862                Died 6 May in Concord, Massachusetts.