Chronology of Romney's Life
| 1734 | December 26, born at Beckside near Dalton in Furness, Lancashire (December 15 in the Julian calendar, used prior to 1752) |
| 1755 | Apprenticed to Christopher Steele for four years |
| 1756 | October 14, marries Mary Abbot, the daughter of his landlady |
| 1757 | Leaves Steele after two years of working with the artist in York, Lancaster, and Kendal. Becomes his own master. April 6, birth of his son, John Romney, who would become his father's biographer |
| 1762 | Disposes of twenty paintings by lottery at the Kendal Town Hall. Departs for London on March 14 |
| 1763 | First exhibits at the Free Society of Artists, which awards him 25 guineas for his The Death of General Wolfe. Continues to place works on exhibition at the Free Society until 1769 |
| 1764 | Leaves in September for six weeks in Paris in company with his friend Thomas Greene; meets Joseph Vernet |
| 1765 | Receives a 50 guinea award from the Free Society for his The Death of King Edmund. Visits family in the North. Romney's wife had by this time left Kendal to live with and look after Romney's father at Dalton. Spends much of his time while in the North painting portraits in Lancaster |
| 1767 | Again visits family and paints portraits in the North |
| 1769 | Exhibits for the last time at the Free Society |
| 1770 | His first exhibit at the Society of Artists ( Mirth and Melancholy) |
| 1772 | Exhibits two portraits at the Society of Artists; Romney's last participation in regular public exhibitions |
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