- 1856
- Edward Thomas Watson born to Ann Eliza Maddox and John Smith Watson.
- 1862
- William Watson, uncle later immortalized as “Uncle Ralph” in Bethany, dies of illness contracted while serving in the Confederate Army.
- 1865
- John Smith Watson, twice wounded, returns home from the war. Grandfather Thomas Miles Watson dies.
- 1870
- Changes name to Thomas Edward Watson.
- 1872
- Enters Mercer University after mother secures loan and scholarship.
- Excels in history and oratory.
- 1873
- Panic of 1873 causes widespread financial ruin. Father sells Thomson farm, moves family to Augusta to operate boarding house.
- 1874
- Withdraws from Mercer for financial reasons, sells personal library and moves to Screven County to teach.
- 1875
- Reads law in the Augusta chambers of Judge W. R. McLaws, passes bar and receives law license. Returns to Screven County to practice law and teach school.
- 1876
- Begins law practice in Thomson, helps edit McDuffie Journal.
- 1878
- Purchases the “Old Sweetwater Place,” moves family back to Thomson from Augusta.
- Marries Georgia Durham: “If I have a Sister Spirit on earth, it is she.”
- 1880
- Son John Durham born
- 1881
- Launches People’s Party Paper
- 1882
- Elected to Georgia House of Representatives. Introduces legislation to alleviate conditions of tenant farmers, to support disabled soldiers, to reform the convict lease system and to tax railroad property.
- Daughter Agnes Pearce born.
- 1885
- Daughter Louise born
- 1889
- Daughter Louise dies.
- 1890
- Wins acquittal of C. E. McGregor in celebrated murder case. Elected to Congress from the 10th District on Farmers’ Alliance platform
- 1892-1894
- Loses both Congressional elections to open vote fraud
- 1896
- Nominated for Vice President by Populist Party to run with William Jennings Bryan.
- 1898
- Refuses gubernatorial nomination by Populist Party.
- 1900
- Purchases Hickory Hill.
- 1902
- Napoleon: A Sketch of His Character, Struggles, and Achievements published.
- 1903
- Life and Times of Thomas Jefferson published.
- Lectures throughout Georgia.
- 1904
- Nominated for President by Populist Party.
- Bethany: A Story of the Old South published.
- Refuses Hearst’s offer to edit New York American.
- 1905
- Life and Times of Andrew Jackson published.
- Tom Watson’s Magazine founded.
- 1906
- Watson’s Jeffersonian Magazine founded.
- Watson’s Jeffersonian Weekly founded.
- 1907
- Waterloo published.
- 1908
- Nominated for President by Populist Party.
- 1910
- Jeffersonian Publishing Company founded in Thomson.
- 1911
- Purchases copyrights of books.
- 1913
- Indicted for sending obscene literature through the mails.
- 1914
- Opposes new trial for Leo Frank.
- 1915
- Denounces Frank commutation.
- Leo Frank lynched.
- Acquitted of obscenity charges.
- 1917
- Daughter Agnes dies.
- The Jeffersonian banned from the mails.
- 1918
- Son John Durham dies.
- Loses congressional race to Carl Vinson.
- Buys weekly Columbia Sentinel.
- 1920
- Elected to U.S. Senate without a runoff against incumbent Senator Hoke Smith and Governor Hugh Dorsey.
- 1922
- Dies in Chevy Chase, Maryland.
- 1923
- Georgia Durham Watson dies.
