Birth of Karl Marx
Karl Heinrich Marx is born in Trier to lawyer Heinrich Marx and Henriette Pressburg.
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Karl Heinrich Marx Biography and Timeline
Follow Karl Heinrich Marx through 181 dated historical records for Germany.
Karl Heinrich Marx, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
181Distinct records
1 of 5Page
1818–1843Years on this page
1818
1824
Baptism
Marx is baptised into the Protestant Church together with his siblings.
1830
Friedrich-Wilhelm Gymnasium
Marx begins attending the Friedrich-Wilhelm Gymnasium in Trier.
1835
School Graduation
Marx completes his secondary education and receives his school-leaving certificate.
University of Bonn
Marx enrols at the University of Bonn to study law.
1836
University of Berlin
Marx transfers to the University of Berlin and studies law and philosophy.
Engagement to Jenny von Westphalen
Marx becomes secretly engaged to his childhood friend Jenny von Westphalen.
1837
Letter to Heinrich Marx
Marx writes a long letter to his father describing his intellectual development.
Young Hegelians
Marx becomes associated with the Young Hegelians and studies Hegelian philosophy.
1839
Epicurean Philosophy Notebooks
Marx compiles notebooks on Epicurean philosophy while preparing his doctoral research.
1841
Doctorate from Jena
The University of Jena awards Marx a doctorate in philosophy in absentia.
Doctoral Dissertation
Marx submits a dissertation comparing the natural philosophies of Democritus and Epicurus.
1842
The Question of Centralisation in Itself
Publishes an article examining political centralisation and local autonomy in the Rheinische Zeitung.
Leading Article in No. 179 of the Kolnische Zeitung
Publishes a critique of the Kolnische Zeitung's treatment of philosophy, religion and political discussion.
Communism and Augsburg Allgemeine Zeitung
Publishes an article responding to attacks on communism in the Augsburg Allgemeine Zeitung.
Sixth Rhine Province Assembly Proceedings
Begins publishing a series on debates in the Sixth Rhine Province Assembly.
Editor of Rheinische Zeitung
Marx becomes editor of the Rheinische Zeitung and sharpens its criticism of government policy.
Communal Reform and the Kolnische Zeitung
Publishes an article on communal reform and the political position of the Kolnische Zeitung.
Failures of the Liberal Opposition in Hanover
Publishes an article criticizing weaknesses in the liberal opposition in Hanover.
Divorce Bill Editorial Note
Publishes an editorial note on the proposed Prussian divorce bill.
Cabinet Order on the Daily Press
Publishes an article criticizing a cabinet order affecting the daily press.
Kolnische Zeitung Versus Rheinische Zeitung
Publishes a response to criticism directed at the Rheinische Zeitung by a Kolnische Zeitung correspondent.
Hanover Industrialists and Protective Tariffs
Publishes an article examining Hanover industrialists and the politics of protective tariffs.
Herwegh and Ruge on The Free
Publishes an article discussing the attitudes of Georg Herwegh and Arnold Ruge toward The Free.
Polemical Tactics of the Augsburg Newspaper
Publishes an article criticizing the polemical methods of the Augsburg newspaper.
Commissions of the Estates in Prussia
Publishes an article examining the role of commissions of the Prussian estates.
The Divorce Bill
Publishes a fuller article on the political and legal issues surrounding the Prussian divorce bill.
Debates on Freedom of the Press
Marx publishes articles defending freedom of the press against Prussian restrictions.
Moselle Peasants
Marx investigates the poverty and grievances of wine-growing communities in the Moselle region.
Prussian Censorship Instruction
Marx writes critically about Prussia's revised censorship regulations.
Rheinische Zeitung Contributor
Marx begins contributing political and philosophical articles to the Rheinische Zeitung.
1843
Ban on the Leipziger Allgemeine Zeitung
Publishes the opening instalment of an article opposing the ban on the Leipziger Allgemeine Zeitung.
Reply to Oberpraesident von Schaper
Publishes a reply to Oberpraesident von Schaper during the Rheinische Zeitung's dispute with Prussian authorities.
Polemical Articles Against the Allgemeine Zeitung
Begins a series of polemical articles answering the Allgemeine Zeitung.
Local Election of Provincial Deputies
Publishes an article on local elections of deputies to the provincial assembly.
Rhein-und-Mosel-Zeitung as Grand Inquisitor
Publishes a polemical response to the Rhein-und-Mosel-Zeitung.
Stylistic Exercises of the Rhein-und-Mosel-Zeitung
Publishes a further critique of the Rhein-und-Mosel-Zeitung's political journalism.
Resignation from Rheinische Zeitung
Marx resigns shortly before the authorities suppress the Rheinische Zeitung.
Marriage to Jenny von Westphalen
Marx marries Jenny von Westphalen after a lengthy engagement.
Move to Paris
Marx moves to Paris with Jenny and enters a community of radical intellectuals.
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.