1766 - apprenticed to his uncle, John Boydell, for seven years. 1769 - started studying at the Royal Academy. 1772 - first exhibited at the Royal Academy. 1773 - went to Houghton Hall, Norfolk, with Richard Earlom, George and Joseph Farington to copy works in the collection. 1790 - became a member of the Royal Society of Arts. 1798 - helped form the Hampstead infantry. 1803 - became lieutenant-colonel commandant of the Loyal Hampstead Volunteers. 1804 - succeeded John Boydell (on his death) as alderman of Cheap ward and was in control of the John Boydell, Engravers, publishing house for which he'd been a partner. 1809 - was forced to resign his aldermanic status owing to ill health. 1811-1812 - served as master of the Stationers' Company.