This chapter chronologically lists the most important events in the life of John Donne from 1572, when he born, to 1660. It provides a compendium of useful information for any reader of Donne to have at hand: crucial biographical material, historical contextualisation, and details about his life's work. It's entries identify, describe and explain the most influential persons in Donne's life and works, as well as places, characters, allusions, ideas, concepts, individual words, phrases and literary terms that are relevant to a rounded appreciation of his poetry and prose.