1790: Born in Virginia

1807: Graduates from the College of William and Mary

1811-16: Serves in Virginia House of Delegates

1817-21: Serves in U.S. House of Representatives

1823: Elected to Virginia state legislature

1825-26: Serves as governor of Virginia

1827-36: Serves in U.S. Senate

1839: Loses Virginia gubernatorial election

1841: Serves as vice president under William Henry Harrison for thirty-one days; becomes president following Harrison's death

1841-45: Serves as tenth U.S. president

1845: Signs the Congressional Resolution annexing Texas

1861: Elected to Confederate States Congress

1862: Dies in Virginia