1847
Born 8 November, Dublin. Part of Protestant middle-class group in midst of Catholic majority, although parents not wealthy. In Dublin, moves in close circle including Sir William and Lady Wilde (parents of Oscar Wilde) and Gothic writer Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu.
1863–7
Attends Trinity College Dublin, where active in the Philosophical Society.
1867
First sees the actor Henry Irving perform.
1868
Enters Civil Service, following his father Abraham. Begins reading Walt Whitman.
1870
Finally graduates from Trinity, with science degree.
1871
Begins writing play reviews and criticism for Dublin Evening Mail, part owned by Le Fanu.
1872
Stoker writes letter to Walt Whitman in passionate admiration of Leaves of Grass, but decides not to send it. Publishes his first story in London Society.
1873
Sees actress Geneviève Ward on stage for first time; becomes lifelong friend.
1875
First Gothic story, 'The Chain of Destiny', published.
1876
Stoker gives vote of thanks to visiting actor Henry Irving. Stoker praises Irving's 'historic genius' in his performance and becomes his ardent admirer.
1877
Irving in Dublin performs both Othello and Hamlet.
1878
Publishes The Duties of Clerks of Petty Sessions in Ireland. In October leaves his Civil Service job to become manager of Lyceum Theatre in London for Henry Irving, at three times his annual Civil Service salary. Marries Florence Balcombe days before leaving Dublin; she had turned down a proposal from Oscar Wilde. At Lyceum, Stoker begins a lifelong friendship with actress Ellen Terry.
George Stoker, his brother, publishes With 'the Unspeakables', an account of his time as a doctor in the Russo-Turkish war in Bulgaria.
1879
Only son born. Christened Irving Noel Thornley Stoker.
1879–84
Lives at 27 Cheyne Walk, Chelsea, a fashionable address near the homes of Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Algernon Swinburne, and James Whistler. Meets Rossetti's assistant, Hall Caine, who becomes close friend and later best-selling author. Through the Lyceum, Stoker becomes friends with William Gladstone, Baroness Burdett-Coutts, Richard Burton, and many other celebrated figures. Florence Stoker considered a great beauty of the time, and gathers admirers including the librettist and writer W. S. Gilbert.
1882
First collection of stories, Under the Sunset. Stoker acquires some fame for jumping into Thames in attempt to rescue a suicide.
1883
First visit to America, touring with Irving (between 1883 and 1905, Stoker estimated he spent four years in America on the eight tours he took with Irving). Meets Walt Whitman.
1885
Irving plays Faust at Lyceum.
1887
Wife and son shipwrecked in the Channel, but both survive. Publishes sadistic tale, 'The Dualitists'.
1890
Publishes first novel, The Snake's Pass. Qualifies as a barrister, called to Bar at the Inner Temple. Makes first notes on new Gothic novel to be called The Undead. Finds Wilkinson's An Account of the Principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia whilst on holiday in Whitby.
1891
Becomes investor in new publishing venture by William Heinemann.
1894
Novel, The Watter's Mou'. Stoker encourages staging of Conan Doyle's play Waterloo at the Lyceum.
1895
Novel, The Shoulder of Shasta. Brother, Thornley, knighted for services to medicine. Henry Irving also knighted, the first actor to gain the honour. Oscar Wilde imprisoned. On American tour, Stoker meets Theodore Roosevelt.
1896
Suffers financial difficulties, when investment in Heinemann fails. Requests loan from friend Hall Caine, on hope that his new book will allow him to return the money.
1897
Submits novel The Undead to Constable; the book is published on 26 May under the title Dracula. Stage version read at Lyceum on 18 May, but Irving refuses to stage it.
1898
Novel, Miss Betty.
1899
Novel, Snowbound.
1900
Irving loses control of the Lyceum, and the theatre is sold on.
Stoker continues as Irving's personal manager.
1901
Cheap edition of Dracula, abridged by Stoker, is published.
1902
Novel, Mystery of the Sea.
1903
Novel, The Jewel of the Seven Stars.
1905
Novel, The Man. Death of Henry Irving. Stoker suffers stroke, affecting his sight.
1906
Personal Reminiscences of Henry Irving, a two-volume hagiography of his boss.
1908
Novel, Lady Athlyne. Publishes the essay 'The Censorship of Fiction'. Interviews William Churchill for Daily Chronicle.
1909
Novel, The Lady of the Shroud.
1910
Famous Impostors.
1911
Last novel, The Lair of the White Worm. Stoker's illness and financial difficulty result in appeal to Royal Literary Fund for pension.
1912
Stoker died 20 April, aged 64. Controversy still attends cause of death; biographer Daniel Farson first claimed in the 1970s that Stoker died from the sexually transmitted infection syphilis.
1914
Florence publishes 'Dracula's Guest' in collection of short stories.
1922
Florence first becomes aware of the German film Nosferatu and sues the producers for breach of copyright of Dracula, initially through the Society of Authors. She eventually succeeds in getting copies of the film destroyed.
1924
Florence agrees to authorized stage version of Dracula adapted by Hamilton Deane. It opens in the provinces, then transfers to London in 1927 where it is critically panned yet plays to packed houses for over a year.
1927
Deane's script is streamlined by John Balderston, and the play opens on Broadway with Hungarian-born actor Bela Lugosi in the role of Dracula. Another great success.
1931
After much negotiation, Lugosi stars in the famous Universal Studio version of Dracula. Deane, Balderston, and Florence Stoker are paid for the rights.
1937
Death of Florence Stoker.