Timeline
The life and career of James McNeill Whistler, 1834–1903
Born July 10 in Lowell, Massachusetts, the first child of George Washington Whistler and Anna McNeill Whistler
Joins his father in St. Petersburg (winter 1842-43), where Nicholas I had engaged him to design a railway; later enrolls at the Imperial Academy of Arts
Enters the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in July; dismissed after three years
Works as a draftsman for the U.S. Coast Survey and learns to etch
Arrives in Paris and studies in the atelier of Charles Gleyre
Publishes Twelve Etchings from Nature, the 'French Set', printed with Auguste Delâtre
Settles in London and begins etching the Thames wharves at Wapping, Rotherhithe and Limehouse
The Royal Academy rejects Symphony in White, No. 1: The White Girl
The White Girl is shown at the Salon des Refusés in Paris
Travels to Valparaíso, Chile; settles in Chelsea and begins the nocturnes
Paints Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 1, the portrait of his mother; the Thames etchings are published as a set by Ellis & Green
Begins decorating Frederick Leyland's dining room as Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room (completed 1877)
John Ruskin attacks Nocturne in Black and Gold: The Falling Rocket, shown at the Grosvenor Gallery; Whistler sues for libel
Whistler v. Ruskin is heard November 25-26; Whistler wins one farthing in damages. Begins making lithotints with the London printer Thomas Way (the date of his earliest lithographs is traditionally given as 1878)
Declared bankrupt by May; arrives in Venice in September on a Fine Art Society commission for twelve etchings
Returns to London after some fourteen months; Venice, a Series of Twelve Etchings is published by the Fine Art Society
Delivers the Ten O'Clock lecture in London in February
Elected president of the Society of British Artists on June 1; A Set of Twenty-Six Etchings (the Second Venice Set) is issued
Marries Beatrice Godwin on August 11
Publishes The Gentle Art of Making Enemies
The French state buys Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 1
Death of Beatrice Whistler in London
Becomes first president of the International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers
Dies in London on July 17; buried in Chiswick Old Cemetery
Charles Lang Freer buys the Peacock Room; it has been on permanent view at the Freer Gallery of Art since 1923