William Morris - A Selected Chronology

See also: A Pictorial History

1834
William Morris born, 24th March, at Elm House, Walthamstow.

1848-51
Educated at Marlborough College, Wiltshire.

1853-5
At Exeter College, Oxford, to study for Holy Orders.
Meets Edward Burne-Jones and C.J. Faulkner, later to be members of the firm.

1856
Articled to G.E. Street, Gothic Revival Architect, at Oxford. Philip Webb fellow pupil.
Later in same year, mover to London to study painting under D.G. Rossetti.

1858
First volume of poems, 'The Defence of Guinevere', published.

1859
Marries Jane Burdon.

1860-5
Lives at Red House, Bexley heath, Kent, specially designed for him by Philip Webb and decorated by Morris, Burne-Jones, Rossetti etc.

1861
Firm of Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co founded, with premises at 8 Red Lion Square, Bloomsbury.
Daughter Jenny born.

1862
May Morris born. Firm shows work at the International Exhibition at South Kensington.

1863
Firm's premises move to 26 Queen Square, Bloomsbury with Morris and family 'living above his shop'.
Warrington Taylor appointed business manager.

1866-7
Firm commissioned to decorate Armoury and Tapestry Rooms at St. James Palace and Green Dining Room at South Kensington Museum.

1868
'Earthly Paradise' published

1871
Rents Kelmscott Manor, Lechlade, Gloucestershire. First visits Iceland.

1872
Morris Family goes to live at Horrington House, Turnham Green, to make room for expansion of workshops at Queen Square.

1875
Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co dissolved and begun again as Morris & Co, with Morris as sole manager. First visit to Thomas Wardle at Leek.

1876
Morris appointed examiner (of drawings sent for exhibition) at South Kensington Museum

1877
Gives first lecture 'The Decorative Arts'. New sales and showrooms opened at 449 Oxford Street. Founds Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings. First woven silks produced at Queen Square.

1878
Kelmscott House, Hammersmith taken. First 'Hammersmith' hand tufted carpets made there.

1881
Morris & Co moves to Merton Abbey, Surrey.

1883
High warp tapestry weaving started at Merton. Morris' first involvement with socialism - joins the Social Democratic Federation.

1884
Begins lecturing in London and throughout the country on Socialism.

1885
Leaves Social Democratic Federation and founds the Socialist League.

1890
Leaves Socialist League and founds Hammersmith Socialist Society.

1891
Kelmscott press started. 'News from Nowhere' published.

1896
Kelmscott 'Chaucer' published. Morris dies 3rd October, at Kelmscott House, Hammersmith.