| Date | Event |
|---|
| 1811, May 5 | Born, St. Helen's near Liverpool, England |
| 1829-1831 | Attended University of London, London, Enbland |
| 1831 | Married Antonia Caetana de Paiva Pereira Gardner |
| 1832 | Immigrated to America |
| 1839 | Among those taking the first clear photographs of the human face |
| 1839 | Took first astrophotographs, using the moon as subject |
| 1839-1882 | Professor of chemistry, New York University, New York, N.Y. |
| 1850-1882 | President of the medical school, New York University, New York, N.Y. |
| 1856 | Published Human Physiology, Statical and Dynamical. New York: Harper |
| 1860 | Delivered paper on the intellectual development of Europe at Oxford, England |
| 1863 | Published History of the Intellectual Development of Europe. New York: Harper & Bros. |
| 1867-1870 | Published History of the American Civil War. New York: Harper (3 vols.) |
| 1874 | Published History of the Conflict Between Religion and Science. New York: D. Appleton |
| 1878 | Published Scientific Memoirs. New York: Harper & Brothers |
| 1882, Jan. 4 | Died, New York, N.Y. |
