Oct. 27, 1858

Theodore Roosevelt born

1880 

Graduates from Harvard University

Oct. 27, 1880

Marries Alice Hathaway Lee (1861-84).

Feb. 12, 1884

Daughter Alice Roosevelt born in New York City.

Feb. 14, 1884 

TR's first wife, Alice Lee Roosevelt, dies of kidney failure following the birth of a daughter, Alice (1884-1980). TR's mother, Mittie Bullock Roosevelt, dies of Typhoid Fever the same day.

Mar. 1, 1884

TR signs a construction contract with John A. Wood and Son to construct a house on Cove Neck, near Oyster Bay, NY for $16,975. This turned out to be his Sagamore Hill home.

1884 to 1886 

Writes history and operates a cattle ranch in the Dakota Territory, where he earned the respect and affection of the cowhands and ranchers.

Fall 1886 

Runs unsuccessfully for Mayor of New York.

Dec. 2, 1886 

Marries his childhood sweetheart, Edith Kermit Carow (1861-1948), in London. She bore him four sons--Theodore, Jr. (1887-1944); Kermit (1889-1943); Archibald (1894-1979); and Quentin (1897-1918)--and a daughter, Ethel (1891-1977). The energetic young Roosevelts would become the liveliest group of children to live in the White House.

1889 

Wins a seat on the U.S. Civil Service Commission through political service to Benjamin Harrison. 

1895

Leaves Washington to serve two turbulent years as president of the Police Commission of the City of New York.

1897 

Appointed TR Assistant Secretary of the Navy by President McKinley

1898

Resigns his position as assistant secretary to accept a lieutenant colonelcy in the 1st U. S. Volunteer Cavalry (the "Rough Riders") during the outbreak of the Spanish-American War.

July 1, 1898

Leads the Rough Riders in a heroic charge up San Juan and Kettle Hills during the Spanish-American War in Cuba.

Summer of 1898

Returns to New York to run for governor and wins.

1900

Nominated and elected Vice President of the United States.

Sept. 6, 1901

President William McKinley assassinated in Buffalo, NY.

Sept. 14, 1901 

TR takes the oath of office as the 26th President of the U.S. in Buffalo, NY. At 42, he was the youngest man to hold that office. 

1902

Forces the anthracite coal industry to settle a prolonged strike by agreeing to accept the recommendations of an independent arbitration committee appointed by himself.

1902 

Withdraws American troops from Cuba, since he had no desire to establish a formal empire in the Caribbean

1902 

Gives his support to the Democratic-sponsored Newlands Act. Under its authority 30 irrigation projects, including Roosevelt Dam in Arizona, were begun or completed during his presidency. 

1903

Signs the Elkins antirebate railroad bill, which ended the practice by railroads of showing favoritism through the granting of rebates on freight rates.

1903 

Signs Panama Canal treaty and creates the Department of Labor and Commerce.

1904 

Wins presidential election to a full term. 

1905 

Reorganizes the Forest Service. 

1906 

Awarded Nobel Peace Prize for arbitrating end of Russo-Japanese War.

1906 

Enacts the Hepburn Act, authorizing the Interstate Commerce Commission to regulate railroad rates, and the Pure Food and Drug Act. 

1907 

Supports William Howard Taft for the presidency. 

Dec. 16, 1907 

In Hampton Roads, TR reviews 16 American battleships known as "The Great White Fleet" and sends them around the world. 

Jan. 31, 1908

Roosevelt lashed back at Republican leaders in one of the most bitter and radical presidential messages on record. He charged that the representatives of "predatory wealth" were thwarting his program.

Mar. 3, 1909

Leaves the country immediately after President Taft's inauguration.

Jun. 1910 

Returns home to Oyster Bay, NY.

1912 

Leaves Republican Party and runs for presidency on his new Progressive, or Bull Moose, ticket.

1912 

Loses presidency to Democrat Woodrow Wilson.

1912 to 1914

Writes his autobiography, wins a libel suit against a Michigan editor who had characterized him as a liar and drunkard, and leads an expedition up an unmapped river in Brazil, where he almost dies of malarial fever.

Fall of 1915

Concludes that the United States should enter World War I on the side of the Allies.

July 14,1918 

Youngest son, US Army Air Corps Lt. Quentin Roosevelt, dies in an aerial dog fight over France.

Jan. 6, 1919

Theodore Roosevelt dies at home in his sleep. He was buried without eulogy, music, or military honors in a plain oak casket at Sagamore Hill in Oyster Bay, NY