| 1572? | — | Thomas Dekker born in London of unknown parentage.
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| 1580 - 88? | — | Presumably attends grammar school.
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| 1589 - 93? | — | Probably serves as a seaman or as an apprentice to a tradesman.
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| 1592?- 93? | — | Marriage.
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| 1594 | — | A child of "Thomas Dycker" is baptized in St. Giles, Cripplegate.
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| 1593?- 95? | — | Probably begins to write for the actors, particularly Henslowe's clients,the Lord Admiral's Men.
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| 1598 | — | Henslowe first mentions Dekker by name in January. Francis Mere listsDekker among the best English writers of tragedy. Early in February, Dekker is inprison for debt.
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| 1599 | — | Arrested on January 30, for debt to the Lord Chamberlain's Men; Henslowe discharges debt.
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| 1600 - 01 | — | Writes for the Children of Paul's company; drawn into the Stage Quarrel against Jonson. Writes occasionally for Henslowe, that is, for the Lord Admiral's Men.
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| 1602 | — | Writes on a full-time basis for Henslowe.
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| 1603 | — | Composes much of the script for The Magnificent Entertainment Given toKing James.
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| 1603 - 04 | — | Composes two pamphlets on the cause and the misery of plague.
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| 1604 - 06 | — | Resumes playwriting for Henslowe, the Children of Paul's and probablyalso the Prince's Men. Collaborates with Middleton (at least two plays) and withWebster (two).
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| 1606 - c.1609 | — | Quarrel with the Prince's Men at the Fortune Theatre; Children ofPaul's company collapses. Dekker writes prose tracts. |
| 1610-12 | — | Returns to playwriting, apparently for the Queen's Men at the Red BullTheater; continues to write tracts and at least on Lord Mayor's show. Moves fromCripplegate to Clerkenwell, near the Red Bull. |
| 1613-19 | — | Confined in King's Bench prison for debt. |
| 1620-24 | — | Writes for the Red Bull Company (now called "Players of the Revels"), forthe Palsgrave's Men, and possibly for others. Collaborates with Massinger, Day,Ford, Webster, and others. |
| 1625 | — | Death of King James; plague causes closing of the theaters, reorganization ofthe acting companies. Publishes tract. |
| 1626-29 | — | Indicted for recusancy, probably because of absence from church toavoid arrest for debt. Composes three tracts; writes at least two Lord Mayor's shows;revises or composes several plays. |
| 1630 | — | Resurgence of the plague leads Dekker to publish two more pamphlets. |
| 1631 | — | Probably returns to playwriting; assignment of plays to this year is conjectural. |
| 1632 | — | Buried on August 25 at St. James's parish, Clerkenwell. |
