18611863-68
Lives in the Southern Austrian Railway station at
Pottschach, where his father is a railway technician.
1879
Attends Vienna Technical University.
1883
In Vienna, edits Goethe's Natural Scientific Writings.
1889
First introduced to theosophical ideas in Vienna in the circle
of Marie Lang.
1889-97
Employed by the Goethe Archive in Weimer.
1891
Receives doctorate in philosophy from the University of
Rostock.
1892
Publishes dissertation under the title Truth and
Knowledge.
1894
The Philosophy of Freedom is published.
1895
Friedrich Nietzsche: Battler against His Time is
published.
1897
Goethe's Conception of the World is published. In
Berlin, he edits the avant-garde periodical Magazin für Literatur.
1899
Marries Frau Eunike.
1902-9
Serves as general secretary of the German branch of the Theosophical Society, although he
never becomes a member.
1904
Hilla Rebay, who will go on to be the founding director of the
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York,
attends his lectures.
Knowledge of Higher Worlds and Its Attainment
and Theosophy is published.
1908
Wassily
Kandinsky and Gabriele Munter attend his lectures at the Architektenhaus in
Berlin. Meets with Swedish mystical painter Hilma af Klint in Stockholm.
1909
Separates from the Theosophical Society in disagreement over
the declaration by Annie Besant and C. W. Leadbeater that a sixteen-year-old
Indian youth, J. Krishnamurti, is a spiritual prophet Piet
Mondrian joins the Theosophical Society. Occult Science: An Outline
is published.
1910-13
Writes four mystery dramas, first performed in Munich.
1911
Frau Eunike, his first wife, dies.
1913
HIs followers organize the Anthroposophical Society, although
he does not become a member. Begins construction on the first Goetheanum, in Dornach,
Switzerland.
1914
Marries Marie von Sievers, his former assistant in the German
branch of the Theosophical Society.
1919
Develops experimental educational model for children in
response to a request from Emil Molt, owner of the Waldorf-Astoria Tobacco
factory in Stuttgart.
1920
Hilma af Klint travels to the Goetheanum in Dornach to meet
with him.
1922
On New Year's Eve, shortly after completion, first Goetheanum
is burned to the ground by arsonists. Virtually all drawings made prior to the
fire are destroyed. The touring agency of Sachs and Wolf inform him that they
can no longer guarantee his safety and refuse to arrange further public
lectures. Hitler and the Nazi party target him for persecution.
1923
Re-founds the General Anthroposophical Society and assumes its
leadership.
1925 Dies.