1807 - at the age of 12, he won the first of several prizes in competitions for young artists sponsored by the Society of Arts. 1808 - enrolled at the Royal Academy Schools and won the silver medal of the Society of Arts. 1817 - established a studio at 52 Upper Charlotte Street, London. 1836 - painted his first royal portrait, that of Adolphus, duke of Cambridge, uncle to Queen Victoria. 1837 - painted a miniature of Victoria. 1838 - appointed an associate of the Royal Academy. 1839 - journeyed to Brussels Leopold I, king of the Belgians, Queen Louise, and their children. 1842 - appointed Royal Academician and knighted, at the instigation of the queen. 1852 - invited to Lisbon to paint the Portuguese royal family for Queen Victoria, and was rewarded with the Portuguese honour of Jesus Christo. 1857 - suffered a stroke inducing partial paralysis.