44 moments

1. Birth in Calcutta

   1811-07-18 · Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India

   Thackeray was born in Calcutta, then within the Bengal Presidency. Coordinate is a representative point near the documented former Freeschool Street birthplace area.

2. Schooling in Southampton

   1817-01-01 · Southampton, Hampshire, England

   After reaching England from India, Thackeray was sent to school in Southampton. The particular school site is not identified in the source.

3. Voyage stop at Saint Helena

   1817-01-01 · Saint Helena, British Overseas Territory

   As a child being sent from India to England, Thackeray’s ship called at Saint Helena. Coordinate is a representative point for the island; the landing place is not specified.

4. Schooling at Chiswick

   1819-01-01 · Chiswick, London, England

   Thackeray attended school at Chiswick before entering Charterhouse. Coordinate represents Chiswick; the school building is not specified.

5. Pupil at Charterhouse

   1822-01-01 · Charterhouse School, Charterhouse Square, London, England

   Thackeray began his years as a pupil at Charterhouse School in London. The source gives a 1822–1828 attendance period; date marks its beginning.

6. Residence near Ottery St Mary

   1828-01-01 · Larkbeare, near Ottery St Mary, Devon, England

   After leaving Charterhouse, Thackeray lived with his stepfather’s family at Larkbeare near Ottery St Mary. Date marks the period immediately after he left Charterhouse; coordinate is a representative point near Ottery St Mary.

7. Long-vacation visit to Paris

   1829-01-01 · Paris, France

   While a Cambridge student, Thackeray spent part of the long vacation studying French and German in Paris. The precise dates within the 1829 long vacation are not specified.

8. Residence at Trinity College

   1829-02-01 · Trinity College, Cambridge, England

   Thackeray began residence as an undergraduate at Trinity College, Cambridge.

9. Stay and meeting with Goethe at Weimar

   1830-01-01 · Weimar, Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach

   Thackeray spent months in Weimar, where he was introduced to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. The stay extended into 1831; the card is dated to its documented 1830 beginning.

10. Stay at Godesberg

    1830-01-01 · Godesberg, Bonn, Prussia

    After leaving Cambridge, Thackeray travelled through the Rhineland en route to Weimar. Godesberg is now Bad Godesberg, Bonn, Germany.

11. Stay in Cologne

    1830-01-01 · Cologne, Prussia

    Thackeray stayed in Cologne during his journey from England toward Weimar. Cologne was in Prussia in 1830; it is now in Germany.

12. Hare Court chambers

    1831-11-01 · Hare Court, Temple, London, England

    After returning to England and entering the Middle Temple, Thackeray was settled in chambers in Hare Court.

13. Residence and art study in Paris

    1832-01-01 · Paris, France

    Thackeray spent extended periods in Paris studying art and contributing to journals. The source gives an intermittent 1832–1836 residence period; date marks its beginning.

14. Paris correspondence for the National Standard

    1833-01-01 · Paris, France

    As editor and proprietor of the National Standard, Thackeray went to Paris and wrote dispatches for the paper. The source dates the letters from late June to August 1833.

15. Marriage at the British Embassy

    1836-08-20 · British Embassy, Paris, France

    Thackeray married Isabella Gethin Creagh Shawe at the British embassy in Paris. Coordinate represents the present British Embassy area; the embassy’s exact 1836 premises may have differed.

16. Settlement at Albion Street

    1837-01-01 · 18 Albion Street, London, England

    Thackeray returned to England and settled with the Smyth family at 18 Albion Street in London. Coordinate is a defensible representative point for the former Albion Street address near Hyde Park.

17. Visit to County Durham

    1841-01-01 · County Durham, England

    Thackeray visited John Bowes in County Durham while developing the initial idea for Barry Lyndon. Source identifies County Durham but not a precise estate or town; coordinate is representative.

18. Tour of Ireland

    1842-01-01 · Ireland

    Thackeray made a substantial Irish tour that supplied the material for The Irish Sketch Book. The source documents a July–November tour but does not give a complete itinerary; coordinate is representative of Ireland.

19. Near Eastern tour: Athens

    1844-01-01 · Athens, Kingdom of Greece

    On his two-month autumn tour, Thackeray visited Athens. Exact date and site within Athens are not specified.

20. Near Eastern tour: Cairo

    1844-01-01 · Cairo, Egypt Eyalet, Ottoman Empire

    On his autumn tour, Thackeray visited Cairo, the destination named in his later travel book. Cairo was within Ottoman Egypt in 1844.

21. Near Eastern tour: Constantinople

    1844-01-01 · Constantinople, Ottoman Empire

    On his autumn tour, Thackeray visited Constantinople. Constantinople is present-day Istanbul, Türkiye.

22. Near Eastern tour: Jerusalem

    1844-01-01 · Jerusalem, Ottoman Empire

    On his autumn tour, Thackeray visited Jerusalem. Jerusalem was then part of the Ottoman Empire.

23. Departure from Southampton for Near Eastern tour

    1844-08-22 · Southampton, Hampshire, England

    Thackeray left Southampton on the Mediterranean and Near Eastern journey later recorded in Notes of a Journey from Cornhill to Grand Cairo. Coordinate represents Southampton’s historic port area.

24. Return from Rome to London

    1845-02-01 · London, England

    Thackeray returned to London from Rome and moved to St James’s Street. The source establishes Rome as his point of departure but does not date his stay there more precisely.

25. Residence at Young Street

    1846-06-01 · 13 Young Street, Kensington, London, England

    Thackeray moved to 13 Young Street, Kensington, where he resumed family life and worked on major novels. The house is now numbered 16 Young Street.

26. Continental journey

    1848-01-01 · Continental Europe

    Thackeray travelled on the Continent during the summer after completing Vanity Fair. Source does not identify the countries or itinerary; coordinate is only a representative point and should not be read as a documented Paris visit.

27. Visits to Paris

    1849-01-01 · Paris, France

    Thackeray made two documented visits to Paris during 1849. This card merges two visits to the same city in one year.

28. English Humorists lectures in London

    1851-01-01 · London, England

    Thackeray delivered his English Humorists lecture series in London before taking it to the United States. The specific London venues are not identified.

29. Departure from Liverpool for Boston

    1852-10-01 · Liverpool, England

    Thackeray departed Liverpool for Boston to begin his first American lecture tour. Coordinate represents Liverpool’s historic waterfront.

30. Lectures from New York hotel

    1852-11-25 · New York City, New York, United States

    During his first American lecture tour, Thackeray was staying at a New York hotel when he arranged a New Haven lecture. The source dates the letter 25 November 1852; the hotel is not named.

31. In Boston during first American tour

    1853-01-01 · Boston, Massachusetts, United States

    Thackeray was back in Boston in spring 1853 during the concluding phase of his first American tour. The exact day in spring 1853 is not specified.

32. Journey in Germany

    1853-01-01 · Germany

    Thackeray visited Germany during a summer journey after returning from America. Source does not specify towns; coordinate is a representative national point.

33. Journey in Switzerland

    1853-01-01 · Switzerland

    Thackeray visited Switzerland during his July–August continental journey. Source does not specify towns; coordinate is a representative national point.

34. Return to London and visit to Paris

    1853-01-01 · Paris, France

    After his first United States tour, Thackeray returned to London and visited Paris. The source gives a May–July visit but not exact dates.

35. Letters from Savannah

    1853-03-01 · Savannah, Georgia, United States

    Thackeray wrote to his daughters from Savannah while travelling through the American South. The source dates the letters 14–19 March 1853; date is recorded at month precision.

36. Travel to Rome

    1853-11-01 · Rome, Papal States

    Thackeray travelled to Rome late in 1853 and remained there into early 1854 despite illness. Rome was then the capital of the Papal States.

37. Residence at Onslow Square

    1854-01-01 · 36 Onslow Square, South Kensington, London, England

    Thackeray moved from Kensington to 36 Onslow Square, Brompton. Coordinate represents Onslow Square; the exact house location is within the square.

38. Second United States tour: New Orleans

    1855-01-01 · New Orleans, Louisiana, United States

    Thackeray’s second American lecture itinerary included New Orleans. The source gives the tour year, not the particular lecture date.

39. Second United States tour: New York

    1855-01-01 · New York City, New York, United States

    On his second American tour, Thackeray lectured on the Four Georges in New York. The source gives the tour year, not the particular lecture date.

40. Second United States tour: St. Louis

    1855-01-01 · St. Louis, Missouri, United States

    Thackeray’s second American lecture itinerary included St. Louis. The source gives the tour year, not the particular lecture date.

41. Oxford parliamentary campaign

    1857-07-01 · Oxford, England

    Thackeray stood unsuccessfully as an Independent Liberal candidate in the parliamentary election for the City of Oxford. Specific campaign venues are not identified.

42. Residence at Palace Green

    1862-01-01 · 2 Palace Green, Kensington, London, England

    Thackeray moved to his final home at 2 Palace Green, Kensington.

43. Death at Palace Green

    1863-12-24 · 2 Palace Green, Kensington, London, England

    Thackeray died at his Palace Green home in Kensington.

44. Burial at Kensal Green Cemetery

    1863-12-29 · Kensal Green Cemetery, London, England

    Thackeray was buried at Kensal Green Cemetery five days after his death.