Timeline of history of events of Blake's life

By TaraMelia

  • Birth of Jean-Jacques Rousseau

    Born in Geneva, Switzerland.

  • Birth of Denis Diderot

    Born in Langres, France.

  • Birth of Thomas Paine

    Born in Norfolk, England.

  • Rousseau befriended Diderot

  • Diderot sent to Vincennes Prison

    Denis was imprisoned for three months due to his opinions published in 'Philosophical Thoughts' discussing religion and government.

  • Diderot published 'Encyclopédie'

    Also published short stories, novels and plays in which he continued to criticise society and argued for political revolution.

  • Birth of William Blake

    Born in Soho, London.

  • Rousseau publishes 'The Social Contract'

    Helped inspire political reforms and revolutions.

  • Paine joins the Society of Twelve

    Joins a group to discuss town politics, and becomes a member of the Vestry Church collecting taxes and tithes to distribute among the poor.

  • Paine publishes 'The Case of the Officers of Excise'

    Consisted of a request to parliament for better payment and better working conditions.

  • Start of the American Revolutionary War

  • American Independence Day

  • Death of Jean-Jacques Rousseau

  • End of the American Revolutionary War

  • The Treaty of Paris is signed

  • Storming of the Bastille

  • Thomas publishes 'The Rights of Man'

    Radical work calling for representative democracy and proposing a Republican government.

  • Death of Louis XVI of France

    Executed by the guillotine.

  • Death of Thomas Paine

  • Death of William Blake