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Born Jerome David Salinger in New York City, NY
Jerome David Salinger is born in Manhattan. He is the second and last child of a Scotch-Irish mother named Miriam Jillich Salinger and a Jewish father named Sol Salinger. -
Attends McBurney School
Salinger's parents enroll him in Manhattan's exclusive McBurney School for ninth and tenth grades. He begins his writing career as a reporter for the school newspaper. -
Transfers to Valley Forge Military Academy
At age fifteen, Salinger transfers from McBurney to Valley Forge Military Academy in Wayne, Pennsylvania. He later uses the school as the model for Pencey Prep, Holden Caulfield's alma mater in "The Catcher in the Rye." -
Freshman Year at NYU
Salinger enters New York University as a freshman. -
Drops Out of NYU
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WWII Looms in Europe
With war looming in Europe, Salinger leaves Vienna and returns to the United States. A month later, on March 12, the Nazis take over Austria. -
"The Young Folks"
Salinger publishes his piece of fiction, "The Young Folks," in Story magazine. -
"Slight Rebellion Off Madison"
After several rejections, The New Yorker finally accepts one of Salinger's stories. "Slight Rebellion Off Madison," the first Salinger story to feature Holden Caulfield, does not appear in the magazine until five years later. -
Gets Drafted
Salinger is drafted into the U.S. Army, where he has a distinguished military career as an interrogator. Among other accomplishments, he takes part in the Battle of the Bulge and, later, the liberation of the concentration camps. He also forges a friendship with war correspondent Ernest Hemingway. Salinger continues his writing career during the war, carting his typewriter around in his Jeep. His experiences in the war leave a deep impression on him. -
D-Day
On D-Day, Salinger lands on Utah Beach to participate in the invasion of Normandy, France -
"A Perfect Day for Bananafish"
After rejecting Salinger dozens of times, The New Yorker jumps on his story "A Perfect Day for Bananafish," the first to feature a character from the fictional Glass family. He signs a contract with the magazine, promising to let them have first crack at publishing any of his future stories. -
"Uncle Wiggily in Connecticut" Heads to Film - Flops.
My Foolish Heart, a film adaptation of Salinger's story "Uncle Wiggily in Connecticut," premieres. The movie is torn apart by critics. Salinger is so dissatisfied with the filmmakers' interpretation of his work that he never authorizes another film version of his work. -
"The Catcher in the Rye."
The Catcher in the Rye is published by Little, Brown and Company. The novel's success offers Salinger instant fame, just when he decides he doesn't want it. He begins to retreat from public life. -
Converts to Advaita Vedanta Hinduism.
After practicing Buddhism for several years, Salinger becomes deeply interested in the texts of Advaita Vedanta Hinduism. His interest in religion spans his adult life, and he also dabbles in Christian Science and Dianetics, the precursor to Scientology. -
Marries Claire Douglas
Salinger marries Claire Douglas, a student at Radcliffe College (which was the sister school of all-male Harvard). As a wedding present, he gives her a copy of a story about the character Franny Glass, who is based on his new wife. -
Margaret A. Salinger, daughter with second wife, Claire Douglas, born.
The couple's daughter Margaret is born. -
Matthew R. Salinger, son with second wife, Claire Douglas, born.
The couple's son Matt is born. -
"Franny and Zooey"
Franny and Zooey is published. The book consists of two long stories, one about Franny Glass (based on Salinger's wife, Claire) and the other about her brother Zooey. -
Divorces Claire Douglas.
Salinger and Claire Douglas divorce after twelve years of marriage, finalizing a long separation. -
Blocks a Biography
After learning that critic Ian Hamilton is preparing to write a biography about him, Salinger sues Hamilton to block the book's publication. The biography, In Search of J.D. Salinger, eventually appears in 1988. -
Died in Cornish, NH (aged 91).
At the age of 91, J.D. Salinger passes away in New Hampshire. The world mourns the loss of one of its most talented, and reclusive, voices.
