Timeline of Jean-François Champollion, the French philologist who deciphered Egyptian hieroglyphs using the Rosetta Stone, from his birth in 1790 to his death in 1832.
Born in Figeac, Lot, France, to a bookseller family. He showed early linguistic talent, learning Latin, Greek, and Hebrew.
At age 10, Champollion visits mathematician Jean-Baptiste Fourier, who shows him a copy of the Rosetta Stone. Fourier predicts he will decipher it.
Attends the lycée in Grenoble, excelling in ancient languages. He begins studying Coptic, which later proves crucial.
At age 16, he presents a paper on the geography of ancient Egypt at the Grenoble Academy.
Studies at the Collège de France and the École Spéciale des Langues Orientales, learning Arabic, Persian, and Coptic.
At age 18, becomes professor of ancient history at the Lycée de Grenoble. Continues his research on hieroglyphs.
Studies Coptic under the botanist Raffeneau-Delile, recognizing it as key to Egyptian language.
Publishes 'L'Égypte sous les Pharaons', a two-volume work on ancient Egyptian geography.
Marries Rosine Blanc, the daughter of a Grenoble bookseller. She supports his work.
Examines the Vatican's Egyptian artifacts, including the Naples manuscript, aiding his research.
Engages in correspondence with Thomas Young, who had made early progress on the Rosetta Stone. Champollion builds on Young's work.
Delivers his breakthrough 'Lettre à M. Dacier' to the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres, announcing the decipherment of hieroglyphs.
The 'Lettre à M. Dacier' is published, detailing the phonetic values of hieroglyphs. This marks the official decipherment.
Using the Rosetta Stone, he identifies the cartouches of Ptolemy V and Cleopatra, confirming his phonetic system.
Examines Egyptian artifacts in Italian museums, further verifying his system.
Studies the Turin Papyrus, a list of Egyptian pharaohs, confirming his decipherment.
Expands on his decipherment in 'Précis du système hiéroglyphique des anciens Égyptiens'.
Successfully reads the cartouche of Ramesses II, demonstrating the accuracy of his phonetic method.
Becomes curator of the Egyptian collections at the Louvre Museum in Paris.
A work defending his decipherment against critics, demonstrating the reading of royal names.
Elected a member of the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres, recognizing his contributions.
Leads a joint French-Tuscan expedition to Egypt, the first scientific mission to study ancient monuments.
Reaches Alexandria with his team, including Ippolito Rosellini and others. Begins documenting temples.
Reaches Thebes (Luxor) and begins systematic study of the Karnak and Luxor temples.
Explores the rock-cut temples of Ramesses II, confirming the historical accuracy of the inscriptions.
Studies the pyramids of Giza and the Saqqara step pyramid, confirming historical records.
Documents the tomb of Ramesses IV and other pharaonic tombs, reading the hieroglyphic inscriptions.
Studies the well-preserved temples, including the zodiac ceiling at Dendera.
Ventures to the Second Cataract of the Nile, studying inscriptions at Semna and Kumma.
Returns to France after 15 months in Egypt, bringing back many sketches and copies of inscriptions.
Extends the expedition into Nubia, studying the Temple of Komas and other sites.
Visits the Temple of Isis on Philae island, a major Ptolemaic site.
Begins publishing the results of the expedition in 'Monuments de l'Égypte et de la Nubie'.
Honored by the Royal Society of London for his contributions to decipherment.
Chairs the first chair of Egyptology at the Collège de France, giving lectures on hieroglyphs.
Dies in Paris at age 41 from a stroke, possibly due to exhaustion from his work. His Egyptian Grammar is published posthumously.
His 'Grammaire égyptienne' is published posthumously by his brother Jacques-Joseph, codifying his decipherment.
His 'Dictionnaire égyptien' is published posthumously, a comprehensive dictionary of hieroglyphs.
A statue of Champollion by Auguste Bartholdi is erected in his hometown Figeac.
The Musée Champollion is established in his birthplace, dedicated to his life and work.