1801- Thomas is born in Lancashire, England
1818- Thomas’ family returns to America where he begins to take deep interest in landscapes
1823- During a second trip to Philadelphia, Cole becomes determined to become a landscape painter and studies the works of Thomas Birch and Thomas Doughty. Also studied at the Pennsylvania Academy
1825- Cole moves to New York and is recognized for the first time By the New York art  community as a result of his display of sketches completed during a trip up the  Hudson River.
1826- Cole help found the National Academy of Design
1829- Cole took his first trip to the Catskill Mountains, which inspired many famous landscape paintings
1829-1832- Traveled to Europe in order to study the Old Masters first hand as well as observe the beautiful landscapes there
1835- Cole writes a famous essay on American Scenery of 1835
1836- First works in The Course of Empire series are completed which were inspired during his previous trip to Europe. Settled in the village of Catskill.
1840- Cole begins his second major painting series The Voyage of Life
1841-1842 Cole takes a second trip to Europe to further refine his skills as a landscape painter.
1842- Joined the Episcopal Church and began painting the cross as a central figure in his art.
1847- Cole completes his final great masterpiece Home in the Woods.
1848- Thomas Cole dies at the young age of 47 from pneumonia

Thomas Cole Painting Timeline-

1810- Memorandum of a Sky
1825-Lake with Dead Trees
1826- The Falls of Kaaterskill
1827- St. John in the Wilderness
 The Clove
1828- Expulsion from the Garden of Eden
1833-Italian Scene
1834- Course of Empire series started with The Course of Empire: The Savage State
1836- The Course of Empire series is completed with The Course of Empire: Desolation
1838- Dream of Arcadia
1842- The Voyage of Life Series is started with the Voyage of Life: Childhood
1842- The Voyage of Life Series is completed
1843- Mount Aetna from Taormina
1845- The Hunter’s Return
1847- Home in the Woods