February 19, 1743:
Ridolfo Luigi Boccherini is born in a house on the corner of Buia and Fillungo Streets in the Commune of Lucca, the third of six children born to Leopoldo Boccherini, a musician, and Maria Santa Prosperi.
August 4, 1756:
Luigi Boccherini (13) makes his debut, performing a cello concerto of his own composition in Lucca.
March 19, 1761:
Luigi Boccherini (18) gives a concert in Florence of music written entirely by himself.
August 28, 1761:
Luigi Boccherini (18) petitions the town of Lucca for a position as cello player. They will not decide for two-and-a-half years.
April 26, 1764:
The town of Lucca hires Luigi Boccherini (21) as a cello player.
August 4, 1764:
Luigi Boccherini (21) performs for the first time in his new position of cellist for the town of Lucca. It is a Vespers service in the Chapel.
December 9, 1764:
Luigi Boccherini (21), apparently unhappy with his current condition, leaves Lucca and heads for Milan.
July 24, 1765:
As part of festivities surrounding the visit of the Infanta Maria Luisa, future wife of Archduke Leopold, Giovanni Battista Sammartini (64) conducts his own music at an accademia in Pavia. Among the cello section is Luigi Boccherini (22).
December 9, 1765:
La confederazione dei Sabini con Roma pt.I, a cantata by Luigi Boccherini (22) to words of Trenta and de’Nobili, is performed for the first time, in Lucca.
April 1, 1767:
The Mercure de France announces the publication in Paris of the String Quartets op.1 by Luigi Boccherini (24).
March 20, 1768:
Luigi Boccherini (25), along with Filippo Manfredi, makes his Parisian debut at the Salle des Suisses in the Palais des Tuileries. The evening is very successful for both.
August 17, 1769:
Luigi Boccherini (26) marries the singer Clementina Pelliccia in the Spanish royal palace, La Granja de San Ildefonso.
November 8, 1770:
Luigi Boccherini (27) is appointed “violincellist of his Chamber and composer of music with the authorisation of H.M. Charles III” by Infante Don Luis of Spain at Aranjuez.
October 21, 1772:
La secchia rapita, a dramma eroicomico by Antonio Salieri (22) to words of Giovanni Gastone Boccherini (brother of the composer) after Tassoni, is performed for the first time, in the Kärntnertortheater, Vienna.
June 27, 1776:
The Serenade no.501 by Luigi Boccherini (33) is performed for the first time, for the wedding of the Spanish Infante Don Luis to Doña Maria Teresa Ballabriga y Rosas.
October 1, 1783:
Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia writes to Luigi Boccherini (40) in Madrid thanking him for sending the six string quartets op.33. He encourages Boccherini to write more for him and sends a gift.
August 17, 1784:
Luigi Boccherini (41) renews his contract with Infante Don Luis of Spain, with an additional 12,000 reals.
August 7, 1785:
Infante Don Luis of Spain, employer of Luigi Boccherini (42), dies shortly after the death of Boccherini’s wife. The two losses cause severe depression in the composer.
September 28, 1785:
Suddenly unemployed, Luigi Boccherini (42) petitions King Carlos III of Spain for a job.
November 23, 1785:
King Carlos III of Spain agrees to give Luigi Boccherini (42) the first cello position to open and to support him in the interim.
January 21, 1786:
Luigi Boccherini (42) is appointed chamber composer to Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia.
April 18, 1787:
Luigi Boccherini (44) marries his second wife, María del Pilar Joaquina Porretti, in the Church of San Sebastián, Madrid. She is the daughter of a musician.
March 2, 1798:
The new King of Prussia, Friedrich Wilhelm III, refuses to continue a pension granted by his father to Luigi Boccherini (55).
December 2, 1800:
Lucien Bonaparte is received at the Escorial as French ambassador to Spain. He will become a patron of Luigi Boccherini (57) over the next year.
January 20, 1802:
Joseph Bonaparte grants an annual pension of 3,000 francs to Luigi Boccherini (58).
May 28, 1805:
Ridolfo Luigi Boccherini dies at his home at número 5 (probably no.6 today) de la calle Jesús y María in Madrid, Kingdom of Spain, of a “respiratory complaint” (probably tuberculosis), aged 62 years, three months, and nine days. His earthly remains will be laid to rest in the crypt of San Justo, Madrid. In 1929 his remains will be moved to the Church of San Francisco della Pace, Lucca.