| 1809 | Born in Dublin, 24/9/1809 |
| 1828 | First scientific paper |
| 1829 | Licentiate of the Apothecaries' Hall, Dublin |
| 1831 | Published "Elements of Practical Pharmacy" Appointed Professor of Chemistry at the Apothecaries' Hall Founded the Dublin Journal of Medical and Chemical Sciences |
| 1832 | Elected to the Royal Irish Academy |
| 1834 | Appointed lecturer in natural philosophy by the Royal Dublin Society |
| 1840 | Royal Medal of the Royal Society |
| 1841-43 | Published "Elements of Chemistry" |
| 1844 | Appointed Professor of Natural Philosophy at the Royal Dublin Society. Published "Industrial Resources of Ireland" Awarded the Cunningham Gold Medal of the Royal Irish Academy |
| 1845 | Director of the new Museum of Economic Geology in Dublin |
| 1845-73 | President, Queen's College, Cork |
| 1846 | Received a knighthood |
| 1849 | Elected a Fellow of the Royal Society |
| 1867 | Royal College of Science for Ireland founded, appointed Dean |
| 1877-90 | President of the Royal Irish Academy |
| 1890 | Died in Dublin, 16/2/1890 |