1885 16 March Birth of Chaplin’s half-brother, Sydney. 24 June Marriage of Chaplin’s parents,
Charles Chaplin (1863-1901) and Hannah Harriett Pedlingham Hill (1865-1928).
1889 16 April CHARLES CHAPLIN BORN IN LAMBETH, LONDON
1892 Birth of Wheeler Dryden, CC’s half-brother.
1896 June CC admitted as inmate of Hanwell Poor Law Schools. Remains there until January
1898, while Sydney is on Exmouth Training Ship.
1898 July-Sept CC and his brother inmates of Norwood Poor Law Schools. 26 December
CC’s first professional job with "The Eight Lancashire Lads". He tours with the troupe during 1899 and 1900.
1901 9 May Death of CC’s father.
1903 5 May CC’s mother committed as a lunatic. With brief initial periods of
remission, she will remain under confinement for the rest of her life. 3 July CC makes debut on legitimate stage in Jim, A
Romance of a Cockney, Royal County Theatre, Kingston. 17 July CC plays Bill in Sherlock Holmes. He will tour in this part,
with various companies until 1906.
1905Oct-Dec CC plays Billy at Duke of York’s Theatre, London.
1906 March-May CC tours with Repairs, a music hall sketch. He will tour with this
until July 1907.
1908 February CC joins Fred Karno’s Comedians. He will remain with Karno for
almost six years, playing Mumming Birds, The Football Match, Skating, Jimmy the Fearless, The Wow-Wows.
1910 September CC arrives in America with the Karno Company. The tour lasts until
June 1912.
1912 October CC begins second Karno tour of America.
1913 December CC joins the Keystone Film Company. During the next year he makes 35
films for Keystone.
1914 2 February Release of Making a living, CC’s first film. 7 February
Release of Kid Auto Races, in which CC is first seen in his Tramp costume.
1915 January CC joins Essanay Film Company. In the course of the year he makes 14
films, including The Tramp and The Bank.
1916 26 February CC signs with Mutual Film Corporation and sets up independent production
unit. Between May 1916 and October 1917 he releases 12 films, including The Vagabond, Easy Street and The Immigrant.
1918 January CC opens his own studio on La Brea Avenue, Los Angeles, and begins production
for release through First National Exhibitors’ Circuit. Between 1918 and 1923 he releases 8 films including A Dog’s
Life, Shoulder Arms, The Kid and The Pilgrim. 23 October CC marries Mildred Harris. A child of the marriage will die in infancy,
and the marriage will end in a bitter divorce after two years.
1919 Formation of United Artists. CC is a partner with Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford
and D W Griffith.
1921 Sept-Oct CC makes triumphant return to Europe.
1924 6 November CC marries Lita Grey, the intended star of The Gold Rush. Lita becomes
pregnant and is replaced on the film by Georgia Hale. Lita will bear 2 sons, Charles Spencer and Sydney Earle; but the marriage
will end unhappily with a divorce in August 1927
1925 16 August World Premiere of The Gold Rush.
1928 6 January World Premiere of The Circus.
1931 19 January World Premiere of City Lights.
1931-2 Chaplin spends 18 months travelling in Europe and the Far East, meeting such
celebrities as Gandhi, Churchill and Shaw.
1932 July Chaplin meets Paulette Goddard, who will be his companion and wife for the
next eight years.
1936 5 February World Premiere of Modern Times.
1940 15 October World Premiere of The Great Dictator.
1943 16 June CC marries Oona O’Neill.
1944 1 August Birth of Geraldine Leigh Chaplin.
1946 7 March Birth of Michael John Chaplin.
1947 11 April World Premiere of Monsieur Verdoux.
1949 28 March Birth of Josephine Hannah Chaplin.
1951 19 May Birth of Victoria Chaplin.
1952 17 September CC and his family sail from New York on "Queen Elizabeth".
1952 19 September CC’s US re-entry permit rescinded.
1953 5 January Chaplin family moves into Manoir de Ban, Corsier sur Vevey,
Switzerland. 23 August Birth of Eugene Anthony Chaplin.
1954 19 February Oona Chaplin renounces US citizenship.
1957 12 December Premiere of A King in New York, London
1959 3 December Birth of Annette Emily Chaplin.
1962 8 July Birth of Christopher James Chaplin.
1964 September Publication of My Autobiography.
1965 16 April Death of Sydney Chaplin.
1967 2 January Premiere of A Countess From Hong Kong, London.
1968 20 March Death of Charles Chaplin Junior.
1972 16 April CC awarded special "Oscar".
1975 4 March CC knighted by H.M. Queen Elizabeth II.
1977 25 December Death of CC.
* * *
1977 27 December Funeral of CC.
1978 1 March Theft of CC’s body.
1978 17 March Recovery of CC’s body.
My Autobiography