M. Moser. Friendship with fellow artists George Cumberland, John Flaxman, Thomas Stothard.

1780

Exhibits at Royal Academy. Witnesses Gordon No-Popery riots and the burning of Newgate Prison. Engraving plates for bookseller Joseph Johnson.

1782

Marries Catherine Boucher (b. 1762).

1783

Poetical Sketches printed for Blake by Flaxman and Rev. A. S. Mathew, but not publicly distributed.

1784

Father’s death; partnership with James Parker in a print-shop at 27 Broad St.

1785

Dissolves partnership, moves to 28 Poland St.

1787

Death of Robert Blake, whose spirit Blake sees rise through the ceiling ‘clapping its hands for joy’. Friendship with painter Henry Fuseli.

1788

All Religions are One and There is No Natural Religion printed.

1789

Tiriel written. Thel and Songs of Innocence engraved. William and Catherine attend first London meeting of Swedenborgian New Church. Outbreak of French Revolution.

1790

Marriage of Heaven and Hell probably begun.

1791

French Revolution proofs printed for Joseph Johnson. Begins engravings for John Stedman’s anti-slavery Narrative of a five years’ expedition against the Revolted Negroes of Surinam (pub. 1796). Bill to abolish the slave trade rejected in Commons. Visions of the Daughters of Albion probably begun. William and Catherine move to 13 Hercules Buildings, Lambeth.

1792–3

Invasion of France stopped at Valmy. ‘A Song of Liberty’ written.

1793

Execution of Louis XVI. Britain declares war against France. America and Visions engraved.

1794

Songs of Innocence and of Experience issued in a combined volume. Europe and Book of Urizen engraved.

1795

Song of Los, Book of Ahania and Book of Los engraved.

1796–7

Engravings for Young’s Night Thoughts; the work was not well received.

1797

Vala begun. Illustrations and dedicatory poem for Gray’s poems.

1798

Wordsworth and Coleridge publish Lyrical Ballads.

1800

William Hayley, on Flaxman’s recommendation, commissions engravings from Blake. Thomas Butts becomes Blake’s friend and patron. 16 September, William and Catherine move to Hayley’s cottage in Felpham, Sussex.

1800–1802

Felpham residence, work on engravings and miniatures for Hayley, increasing dissatisfaction on Blake’s part. Vala continued, Milton begun.

1802

Peace of Amiens.

1803

10 May, renewal of war with France. 12 August, Blake ejects the dragoon Schofield from his garden, and is charged with sedition. Returns to London, takes rooms at 17 South Molton St.

1804

10 January, sedition trial; Blake acquitted. Milton completed. Jerusalem probably begun.

1805

Publisher Robert Cromek commissions designs for Blair’s Grave from Blake, but afterwards gives the engraving work to Schiavonetti.

1807

Stothard exhibits Canterbury Pilgrims painting; Blake believes the idea stolen from him.

1808

Blair’s Grave published, Blake’s designs attacked by Hunt in The Examiner.

1809

Blake’s exhibition of his paintings, accompanied by the Descriptive Catalogue, proves a failure.