Birth of William Blake
William Blake was born in London and became a poet, engraver and creator of illuminated books.
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
William Blake Biography and Timeline
Follow William Blake through 50 dated historical records for Great Britain.
William Blake, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
50Distinct records
1 of 2Page
1757–1810Years on this page
1757
1772
Apprenticeship with James Basire
Blake began his apprenticeship to engraver James Basire, acquiring the techniques used in his illustrated writing.
1779
Begins Royal Academy Studies
Blake enrolled as a student at the Royal Academy, while continuing to develop his independent visual imagination.
1782
Marries Catherine Boucher
Blake married Catherine Boucher, who later assisted in the production of his illuminated books.
1783
Poetical Sketches Published
Blake's first printed poetry collection Poetical Sketches appeared with the support of friends.
1784
Island in the Moon Drafted
Blake worked on the unfinished prose satire An Island in the Moon, exploring artistic and intellectual fashions.
1788
All Religions Are One Composed
Blake composed the aphoristic work All Religions Are One as part of his early experiments in illuminated writing.
There Is No Natural Religion
Blake created There Is No Natural Religion, a series of philosophical propositions on perception and imagination.
1789
Book of Thel Developed
Blake developed The Book of Thel, a poetic dialogue considering innocence and mortality.
Chimney Sweeper Innocence Published
Blake's Songs of Innocence included a poem about a chimney sweeper and the exploitation of children.
Lamb Lyric Published
The Lamb appeared in Songs of Innocence and associated creation with childhood and religious symbolism.
Little Black Boy Published
The Little Black Boy appeared in Songs of Innocence, confronting race, religion and spiritual equality.
Songs of Innocence Published
Blake issued Songs of Innocence as an illuminated collection combining lyric verse and imagery.
1790
Marriage of Heaven and Hell Begins
Blake began The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, a radical illuminated work combining prose and poetry.
1791
French Revolution Poem Printed
Blake's poem The French Revolution reached proof stage, although it was not generally distributed.
1793
America a Prophecy Published
Blake published America a Prophecy, using mythic figures to interpret revolution and liberation.
Gates of Paradise Issued
Blake produced For Children The Gates of Paradise, a sequence of emblematic engraved images.
Visions of Daughters of Albion
Blake published Visions of the Daughters of Albion, challenging coercion and sexual oppression.
1794
Birth of William Blake
Birth of William Blake
Book of Urizen
Publication of "Europe: A Prophecy". Publication of "Book of Urizen"
Chimney Sweeper Experience Appears
Blake's Songs of Experience included a second chimney sweeper poem criticizing social hypocrisy.
Europe: A Prophecy
Publication of "Europe: A Prophecy". Publication of "Book of Urizen"
London Poem Appears
Blake's London appeared in Songs of Experience, portraying institutional power and urban suffering.
Songs of Experience Published
Blake issued Songs of Experience alongside Songs of Innocence, contrasting social corruption with childhood hope.
Tyger Poem Appears
The Tyger appeared in Songs of Experience, interrogating the mysteries of creation through rhythmic questions.
1795
Book of Ahania
Publication of "The Marriage of Heaven & Hell". Publication of "Book of Los". Publication of "Book of Ahania"
Book of Los
Publication of "The Marriage of Heaven & Hell". Publication of "Book of Los". Publication of "Book of Ahania"
Song of Los Published
Blake published The Song of Los, extending his mythic interpretation of human history and religion.
The Marriage of Heaven and Hell
Publication of "The Marriage of Heaven & Hell". Publication of "Book of Los". Publication of "Book of Ahania"
1797
Night Thoughts Illustrations Issued
Blake's engravings illustrated a publication of Edward Young's Night Thoughts, integrating text with visual design.
Night Thoughts
Publication of "Night Thoughts"
1800
Moves to Felpham
Blake moved to Felpham in Sussex, where he wrote poetry and undertook commissions.
1802
Works on Miltonic Themes
Blake explored Miltonic subjects during his Felpham years and developed ideas appearing in later prophetic books.
1803
Returns to London
Blake returned to London from Felpham and resumed work on ambitious illuminated poetry.
1804
Begins Jerusalem Manuscript
Blake began developing Jerusalem The Emanation of the Giant Albion, his long prophetic poem.
1805
Begins Book of Job Drawings
Blake made watercolor designs exploring the biblical Book of Job for patron Thomas Butts.
1808
Illustrates Blairs Grave
Blake's designs appeared in an edition of Robert Blair's The Grave, offering images inspired by religious verse.
Milton
Publication of "Milton"
1809
Exhibition Descriptive Catalogue Published
Blake published a Descriptive Catalogue explaining works displayed at his independent exhibition.
1810
Milton Prophetic Poem Developed
Blake completed much of Milton a Poem, an illuminated work reimagining the poet John Milton.
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.