The Life of J.K. Rowling
1965 - J.K. Rowling is born Joanne Rowling on July 31st to Peter James Rowling and Anne Rowling
1967 - Rowling's sister Dianne is born
1972 - Rowling's family moves to Tutshill and she attends a new school
1986 - Rowling works for Amnesty International
1987 - Rowling graduates from The University of Exeter with a BA in French and Classics
1990 - Rowling thinks of the idea for Harry Potter on a train coming back from apartment hunting
In December, Rowling's mother passes away from multiple sclerosis at the age of forty-five. Rowling modeled the struggles Harry goes through with losing his parents after her hardship (Rowling's mother never knew of Harry Potter)
1992 - Rowling marries Jorges Arantes, a Portuguese journalist, on October 16th
1993 - First daughter is born in Portugal on July 27th, named Jessica Isabel Rowling Arantes.
1994 - Rowling returns to the United Kingdom with her daughter and divorces Arantes
- Rowling battles depression at this time and contemplates suicide
1995 - Rowling begins a teacher training course at Edinburgh University
1996 - In August, Rowling receives an offer on her manuscript for Harry Potter
1997 - The first Harry Potter novel (Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone) is published in England in June
1998 - Scholastic publishes a version of the first Harry Potter novel in the United States
In July, the sequel to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is published in England
1999 - Rowling sets a record by winning the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize for the third time
2001 - On December 26th, Rowling marries a second husband, Dr. Neil Murray, an anesthesiologist
First Harry Potter movie is released
2003 - Rowling wins W. H. Smith Book Award in fiction category
2005 - Rowling starts the charity, Lumos
2006 - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince wins the Royal Mail Award for Scottish Children's Books
2007 - The final Harry Potter novel is published
2008 - Receives the Book People's Outstanding Achievement award
2010 - Rowling receives the Hans Christian Anderson Literature prize
She donates over 13 million dollars to start the Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic in memory of her mother
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opens at the Universal Orlando Resort
2011 - Rowling reveals her website, Pottermore
2012 - The Casual Vacancy is named one of the ten best fiction books of 2012 by Time magazine
2013 - In January, The Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic officially opens at the University of Edinburgh to help patients with multiple sclerosis
1967 - Rowling's sister Dianne is born
1972 - Rowling's family moves to Tutshill and she attends a new school
1986 - Rowling works for Amnesty International
1987 - Rowling graduates from The University of Exeter with a BA in French and Classics
1990 - Rowling thinks of the idea for Harry Potter on a train coming back from apartment hunting
In December, Rowling's mother passes away from multiple sclerosis at the age of forty-five. Rowling modeled the struggles Harry goes through with losing his parents after her hardship (Rowling's mother never knew of Harry Potter)
1992 - Rowling marries Jorges Arantes, a Portuguese journalist, on October 16th
1993 - First daughter is born in Portugal on July 27th, named Jessica Isabel Rowling Arantes.
1994 - Rowling returns to the United Kingdom with her daughter and divorces Arantes
- Rowling battles depression at this time and contemplates suicide
1995 - Rowling begins a teacher training course at Edinburgh University
1996 - In August, Rowling receives an offer on her manuscript for Harry Potter
1997 - The first Harry Potter novel (Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone) is published in England in June
1998 - Scholastic publishes a version of the first Harry Potter novel in the United States
In July, the sequel to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is published in England
1999 - Rowling sets a record by winning the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize for the third time
2001 - On December 26th, Rowling marries a second husband, Dr. Neil Murray, an anesthesiologist
First Harry Potter movie is released
2003 - Rowling wins W. H. Smith Book Award in fiction category
2005 - Rowling starts the charity, Lumos
2006 - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince wins the Royal Mail Award for Scottish Children's Books
2007 - The final Harry Potter novel is published
2008 - Receives the Book People's Outstanding Achievement award
2010 - Rowling receives the Hans Christian Anderson Literature prize
She donates over 13 million dollars to start the Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic in memory of her mother
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opens at the Universal Orlando Resort
2011 - Rowling reveals her website, Pottermore
2012 - The Casual Vacancy is named one of the ten best fiction books of 2012 by Time magazine
2013 - In January, The Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic officially opens at the University of Edinburgh to help patients with multiple sclerosis