J. R. R. Tolkien 1892-1973

Timeline

3 Jan 1892: Birth of J.R.R. Tolkien
1900: J. R. R. Tolkien's mother converts to Roman Catholicism, a faith her son would share throughout his life
1902: J. R. R. Tolkien moves to England
1904: J. R. R. Tolkien's mother dies, leaving him and his younger brother orphans; the boys became wards of a Catholic priest
1908: J. R. R. Tolkien falls in love with a fellow orphan named Edith Bratt, the inspiration for his characters Lúthien and Arwen; he cannot propose to her until his 21st birthday
1920: J. R. R. Tolkien is professor of English at the University of Leeds
May 1926: C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien meet at Merton College, Oxford
1930: J. R. R. Tolkien begins work on The Hobbit
19 Sep 1931: C. S. Lewis has a late-night conversation with Hugo Dyson and J. R. R. Tolkien regarding myth and the truth of Christianity, which will soon lead to Lewis' conversion.
1933: Tolkien shows C. S. Lewis an early manuscript of The Hobbit
1936: J. R. R. Tolkien publishes scholarly work Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics
1940: A group of like-minded friends called "The Inklings" meets regularly at the Eagle and Child Pub in Oxford to discuss literature, religion and life. The group includes C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien; discussions at this pub contributed to the final form
23 Nov 1963: Funeral of C. S. Lewis