33 moments

1. Birth at the Cleveland parsonage

   1837-03-18 · Grover Cleveland Birthplace, Caldwell, New Jersey, United States

   

   Cleveland was born in Caldwell, New Jersey, where his father was pastor of the local Presbyterian church.

2. Childhood move to Fayetteville

   1841-01-01 · Fayetteville, New York, United States

   

   Cleveland moved with his family to Fayetteville, where he spent much of his childhood. The Library of Congress timeline supplies year precision only.

3. Family home in Clinton

   1851-01-01 · Clinton, New York, United States

   

   Cleveland moved with his family to Clinton, New York, and attended school there. The canonical Wikipedia biography gives 1850 for the family move; the Library of Congress chronology gives 1851.

4. Return to Fayetteville for apprenticeship

   1852-01-01 · Fayetteville, New York, United States

   

   Cleveland returned to Fayetteville for a mercantile apprenticeship while helping support his family.

5. Begins legal work in Buffalo

   1855-08-01 · Buffalo, New York, United States

   

   Cleveland became an assistant at Rogers, Bowen, and Rogers in Buffalo and began studying law.

6. Establishes Lanning, Cleveland, and Folsom

   1869-01-01 · Buffalo, New York, United States

   

   Cleveland established a Buffalo law firm with Albert P. Lanning and Oscar Folsom, strengthening the legal and political relationships that shaped his later career.

7. Sheriff's-office correspondence in Buffalo

   1871-02-28 · Buffalo, New York, United States

   

   As Erie County sheriff, Cleveland wrote from Buffalo regarding the operation of the sheriff's office. The archival item is cataloged as Cleveland's autograph letter dated at Buffalo.

8. Legal correspondence in Buffalo

   1881-05-20 · Buffalo, New York, United States

   

   Cleveland was in Buffalo during the year of his election as mayor, corresponding on legal work shortly before the election campaign. The archival item is cataloged as Cleveland's autograph letter dated at Buffalo.

9. Mayor's-office correspondence

   1882-06-16 · Buffalo, New York, United States

   

   While mayor of Buffalo, Cleveland wrote from the city concerning municipal business and his mayoral office. The archival item is cataloged as Cleveland's autograph letter dated at Buffalo.

10. Accepts New York gubernatorial nomination

    1882-10-07 · Buffalo, New York, United States

    

    Cleveland was in Buffalo when he communicated his acceptance of the Democratic nomination for governor of New York. The archival item is cataloged as Cleveland's autograph letter dated at Buffalo.

11. Governor's correspondence from Albany

    1883-09-13 · Albany, New York, United States

    

    As governor, Cleveland wrote from Albany concerning an invitation, documenting his presence in New York's capital during his governorship. The archival item is cataloged as Cleveland's autograph letter dated at Albany.

12. Governor's-office correspondence during presidential campaign

    1884-10-21 · Albany, New York, United States

    

    Cleveland remained in Albany during the closing weeks of the 1884 presidential campaign and commented on the Democratic ticket's prospects in Pennsylvania. The archival item is cataloged as Cleveland's autograph letter dated at Albany.

13. Presidential correspondence in Washington

    1885-07-10 · Washington, District of Columbia, United States

    

    During his first presidential term, Cleveland wrote from Washington concerning payment for cabinets. Coordinates represent the White House, Cleveland's presidential residence and workplace.

14. Marriage in the White House

    1886-06-02 · White House, Washington, District of Columbia, United States

    Cleveland married Frances Clara Folsom in the White House, the only sitting U.S. president to marry there.

15. Dedicates the Statue of Liberty

    1886-10-28 · Liberty Island, New York Harbor, New York, United States

    Cleveland formally accepted and dedicated the completed Statue of Liberty during its New York Harbor ceremony. The island was then called Bedloe's Island.

16. Departs Washington on goodwill tour

    1887-09-30 · Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Station, Washington, District of Columbia, United States

    

    Cleveland began his major western and southern goodwill tour by leaving Washington aboard a special train. Coordinates represent the former station site near today's National Gallery of Art.

17. Goodwill-tour reception in Indianapolis

    1887-10-01 · Indiana Statehouse, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States

    

    Cleveland and Frances Cleveland arrived in Indianapolis and were carried to the state capitol for a public reception.

18. Goodwill-tour stay in St. Louis

    1887-10-02 · Washington Street Presbyterian Church, St. Louis, Missouri, United States

    

    Cleveland attended church, reviewed a parade, and joined public receptions during the St. Louis leg of his 1887 tour. The church building no longer survives; coordinates are a representative point in downtown St. Louis near its documented historical location.

19. Visits Washington Park in Chicago

    1887-10-06 · Washington Park, Chicago, Illinois, United States

    

    On the goodwill tour, Cleveland visited the International Military Encampment at Washington Park after viewing the site of the Haymarket bombing.

20. Fishes on Lake Mendota

    1887-10-08 · Lake Mendota, Madison, Wisconsin, United States

    

    Cleveland spent part of a rest day on the 1887 tour fishing from a rowboat on Lake Mendota near Madison. Coordinates represent a central representative point on Lake Mendota.

21. Speaks at the Tennessee Statehouse

    1887-10-17 · Tennessee State Capitol, Nashville, Tennessee, United States

    

    Cleveland spoke at the Tennessee Statehouse during the Nashville portion of his nationwide goodwill tour.

22. Returns to private legal work in New York

    1889-12-23 · New York City, New York, United States

    

    After leaving the presidency, Cleveland was in New York City and corresponded with John G. Carlisle about the importation of artworks. The archival item is cataloged as Cleveland's autograph letter dated at New York.

23. Summer residence at Gray Gables

    1890-08-20 · Gray Gables, Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts, United States

    

    Cleveland was at Buzzards Bay during the period when the family had established Gray Gables as its Massachusetts summer home. The letter is dated from nearby Marion; coordinates identify Gray Gables at Buzzards Bay, which the Library of Congress chronology records as Cleveland's 1890 summer home.

24. Pre-convention correspondence in New York

    1892-05-29 · New York City, New York, United States

    

    Cleveland was in New York City shortly before the Democratic National Convention that again nominated him for president. The archival item is cataloged as Cleveland's autograph letter dated at New York.

25. Campaign-season stay at Buzzards Bay

    1892-09-16 · Gray Gables, Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts, United States

    

    During the 1892 campaign, Cleveland wrote from Buzzards Bay while declining an invitation to visit Albany. Coordinates identify Gray Gables, the Clevelands' documented Buzzards Bay summer residence.

26. Secret surgery voyage on the Oneida

    1893-07-01 · Aboard the yacht Oneida, off Long Island, New York, United States

    

    Cleveland underwent secret surgery aboard the yacht Oneida while it sailed off Long Island during the financial crisis of 1893. The cited account dates the surgery to July 1, 1893. Coordinates are a representative offshore position because the source does not specify the yacht's exact location.

27. Retires to Westland

    1897-03-04 · Westland Mansion, Princeton, New Jersey, United States

    

    After his second presidential term ended, Cleveland began retirement at Westland Mansion in Princeton.

28. Summer correspondence from Buzzards Bay

    1900-08-04 · Gray Gables, Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts, United States

    

    In retirement, Cleveland wrote from Buzzards Bay about installing a telephone at his Princeton home. Coordinates identify Gray Gables, Cleveland's documented Buzzards Bay summer residence.

29. Retirement correspondence from Princeton

    1901-10-29 · Westland Mansion, Princeton, New Jersey, United States

    

    Cleveland wrote from Princeton about contemporary accounts of his presidency while living at Westland. The archival item is cataloged as Cleveland's autograph letter dated at Princeton.

30. Summer visit to Tamworth

    1904-08-31 · Tamworth, New Hampshire, United States

    

    Cleveland was in Tamworth, New Hampshire, where he wrote concerning fishing rods. The archival item is cataloged as Cleveland's autograph letter dated at Tamworth.

31. Retirement correspondence from Princeton

    1904-10-13 · Westland Mansion, Princeton, New Jersey, United States

    Cleveland was at Princeton when he corresponded about the appropriate form of address for a former president. The archival item is cataloged as Cleveland's signed letter dated at Princeton.

32. Later visit to Tamworth

    1905-09-16 · Tamworth, New Hampshire, United States

    

    Cleveland was again in Tamworth, New Hampshire, and wrote about land subdivision. The archival item is cataloged as Cleveland's autograph letter dated at Tamworth.

33. Death at Westland

    1908-06-24 · Westland Mansion, Princeton, New Jersey, United States

    

    Cleveland died at his Princeton residence, Westland, after years of declining health.