1756:  March 3, born in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire Fens, England.  His 
	father, John Godwin, was Minister of Wisbech Independent 
	Chapel.  His mother, Ann Hull, came from a well-to-do family, 
	her father owning several ships trading on the Baltic Sea.


1758:  Family moved to Debenham, near Suffolk.


1760:  Family moved to Guestwich, near Norwich where, until his 
	death, John Godwin was minister at the Independent Meeting 
	House for twelve years.


1764:  William, a brother, and a boy named Steele sent to Akers's 
	school at Hindolveston, two and a half miles from home.


1767:  Sent to Norwich to become the sole student of Reverend Samuel 
	Newton


1771:  Returned to Guestwich and worked as an assistant to Akers at 
	his old school.


1772:  Father died in November.


1773:  Went to London, applied to Homerton Academy, but refused 
	admission because of his adherence to Sandemanian views.  
	Spent several months with relatives in Kent.


1773:  September was admitted to the dissenting college at Hoxton 
	where he studied for five years.  Tutored by Kippis.


1778:  In May, left Hoxton and acquired the post of Minister in the 
	small town of Ware in Hertfordshire.  Encountered 
	Rev. Joseph Fawcet.


1779:  In August, left Ware for London where for four months he 
	lodged near Cripplegate.


1780:  Moved to Stowmarket, in Suffolk and is introduced to the 
	works of Rousseau, Hélvetius and d'Holbach.  
	Became a deist.


1782:  Reverted to Socinianism, and in May returned to London 
	until December when he moved to Beaconsfield. 


1783:  For seven months held the post of minister at Beaconsfield in
	Buckinghamshire.  


1783:  In January, published the Life of Chatham, anonymously.


1783:  In July, he returned to London, residing in Holborn where he 
	began to earn a living as a writer.


1783:  On August 4, announced opening of a seminary for twelve pupils 
	in Epsom, Surrey, but student recruitment failed 
	and plan abandoned.  The prospectus, Account of the 
	Seminary, however, provides insight into Godwin's views
	on education.


1784-1785:  Primary income from reviews for Murray's English Review.


1784:  Employed as an assistant in the preparation of the New 
	Annual Register.


1785:  Early in the year he wrote a series of letters in the 
	Political Herald, as Mucius, later becoming 
	the acting editor, but refused the offer to become 
	permanent editor.  Met Priestly.  Shared a house 
	with James Marshall who became Godwin's life-long friend.


1786:  Met Holcroft.


1788:  An orphaned cousin, Thomas Cooper, age 12, came under Godwin's 
	care.


1788-1789:  Spent twelve months writing The English Peerage


1791:  In May, planned Political Justice.


1791:  Met Mary Wollstonecraft at a diner at which Paine was also a 
	guest.


1793:  In February, first edition of Political Justice.


1794:  Published Caleb Williams.


1797:  In March, he married Wollstonecraft.


1797:  On August 30, Mary Godwin born, ten days later Wollstonecraft 
	died from complications at birth of Mary.


1803:  Re-married to Mary Jane Clairmount.


1805:  Established The Juvenile Library.


1812:  Shelley sought out Godwin.


1814:  Shelley and Mary run off to France


1816:  Shelley and Mary married after Shelley's former wife committed 
	suicide.


1822:  Shelley drowned, Mary returned to London, lived briefly with 
	her father until found her own lodgings near by.


1824:  The Juvenile Library closed.


1831:  Published Thoughts on Man.


1833:  Acquired the sinecure office of Yeoman Usher of the Exchequer 
	with a yearly salary of £ 220.


1836:  On April 7, he died in London.  Buried next to Mary 
	Wollstonecraft in the burial ground of Old St. Pancras 
	Church; later both were moved to Bournemouth Churchyard 
	and buried next to Mary Shelley (1851).