Jane Austen, Her Life and Letters
A Family Record
Chronology of Jane Austen's Life
1775
Dec. 16 - Birth, at Steventon.
1779
June - Charles John Austen born.
1780
July - James Austen matriculated at Oxford (St. John's).
1782
Jane and Cassandra at Oxford under care of Mrs. Cawley (sister of Dr. Cooper).
1783
Mrs. Cawley having moved to Southampton, Jane nearly died there of a fever. Mrs. Cooper (her aunt) took the infection and died (October).
1784
The Rivals acted at Steventon.
1784 or 1785
Jane and Cassandra left Mrs. Latournelle's school at Reading, and returned home.
1786
Eliza Comtesse de Feuillide came to England. Birth of her son.
1787
James Austen in France.
1788
July - Henry Austen matriculated at Oxford (St. John's). Francis Austen went to sea.
1791
Edward Austen married Elizabeth Bridges.
1792
March - James Austen married Anne Mathew.
1794
Feb. - Comte de Feuillide guillotined.
1795 (?)
Cassandra engaged to Thomas Fowle.
May - Mrs. James Austen died.
1795-6
Mr. Tom Lefroy at Ashe.
1796
First Impressions (Pride and Prejudice) begun. Jane subscribed to Camilla.
1797
Jan. - James Austen married Mary Lloyd.
Feb. - Thomas Fowle died of fever in the W. Indies.
Nov. - Jane, with mother and sister, went to Bath. First Impressions refused by Cadell. Sense and Sensibility (already sketched in Elinor and Marianne) begun.
Dec. - Henry Austen married Eliza de Feuillide.
1798
Aug. - Lady Williams (Jane Cooper) killed in a carriage accident. Mrs. Knight gave up Godmersham to the Edward Austens. Jane's first visit there.
1798
Aug. - First draft of Northanger Abbey begun.
1799
May - Jane at Bath with the Edward Austens.
Aug. - Mrs. Leigh Perrot's trouble at Bath.
1801
May - Family move from Steventon to Bath. Visit to Sidmouth. Possible date of Jane's romance in the west of England.
1802
Austens at Dawlish and Teignmouth. Visit of sisters to Steventon and Manydown. Jane received an offer of marriage from an old friend.
1803
Northanger Abbey (called Susan) revised, and sold to Crosby of London.
1804
Probable date of The Watsons.
Sept. - Austens at Lyme.
Dec. - Mrs. Lefroy of Ashe killed by a fall from her horse.
1805
Jan. - Death of Jane's father at Bath.
1806
July - Austens left Bath for Clifton, Adlestrop, and Stoneleigh.
1806-7
Austens settled at Southampton.
1807
March - Took possession of house in Castle Square.
1808
Sept. - Cassandra at Godmersham.
Oct. - Mrs. Edward Austen died there after the birth of her eleventh child (John).
1809
April - Jane attempted to secure publication of Susan (Northanger Abbey). Austens left Southampton.
July - Austens took possession of Chawton (having been at Godmersham). Jane's authorship resumed.
1811
April - Jane with Henry in London (Sloane Street) bringing out Sense and Sensibility.
Oct. - Sense and Sensibility published.
1812
Death of Mrs. T. Knight. Edward Austen took the name of 'Knight.'
1813
Jan. - Publication of Pride and Prejudice.
April - Death of Mrs. Henry Austen (Eliza).
Sept. - Jane's last visit to Godmersham. Second edition of Sense and Sensibility.
1814
Jan. - Emma begun.
March - Jane went to London with Henry (reading Mansfield Park by the way).
May - Threat of lawsuit for Chawton. Mansfield Park published.
Nov. - Marriage of Anna Austen to Ben Lefroy.
1815
March - Emma finished.
Oct. - Illness of Henry.
Nov. - Jane shown over Carlton House by Dr. Clarke.
Dec. - Publication of Emma.
1816
March - Bankruptcy of Henry Austen (Jane's health began to break about this time).
May - Jane and Cassandra at Kintbury and Cheltenham.
July - Persuasion finished.
Aug - End of Persuasion re-written. Henry took Orders.
1817
Jan. - Jane began new work.
March - Ceased to write. Death of Mr. Leigh Perrot. Jane made her will.
May 24 - Jane moved to Winchester, and revived somewhat.
June 16 - Cassandra sent a hopeless account to Fanny Knight.
July 18 - Death.
July 24 - Burial in Winchester Cathedral.