1887
Born to Eduard and Henriette Schwitters in Hanover, Germany.
1894
Begins school at the Modernes Realgymnasium I, Hanover.
1901
Has first epileptic seizure and starts to have problems with a nervous disorder.
1911
First time represented in an exhibition with five works included in a show at the Hanover.
1913
Included in the "Grosse Kunstausstellung" exhibition at the Hanover Kunstverein. He contributes to this exhibition several times prior to 1934.
1915
Becomes engaged to Helma Fischer in June and marries her a few months later in October.
1917
Begins to be interested in Expressionism and abstract art. Creates 'Abstractions' series of oil paintings. Declared unfit for service as a WWI soldier in Reichs-Infanteriereregiment 73.
1918
Begins a series of abstract drawings and another of oil paintings, entitled Expressions. Also produces his first collages. Son, Ernst, is born in November.
1923
Begins to produce his first reliefs and work on the Merzbau building in Hanover, Germany begins.
1927
Co-founds "die abstrakten hannover", a sub-group of the Berlin artists' group, which holds many joint exhibitions in the following years.
1931
Elected Honorary President of the Société Anonyme and becomes a member of the artists' association Abstraction-Création in Paris.
1934
Work shown in the autumn show of Hanover artists at the Hanover Kunstverein. This marks the last presentation of Schwitters's work in National Socialist Germany, apart from defamatory presentations.
1937
Flees to Norway and decides to not return due to the political situation in Germany.
1940
German troops invade Norway; forcing Schwitters's to flee to Scotland. There he stays in various internment camps, setting up studios and working in some of them.
1941
Released from the internment camp and moves to London.
1944
Suffers a stroke while ill with influenza, which leads to a temporary paralysis of one side of his body.
1947
Awarded a fellowship by the Museum of Modern Art, New York, intended for the re-building of one of the Merz buildings in Germany. Uses the award to create Merzbau, the Merz Barn, in the Lake District. Work on the project is later interrupted when Schwitters suffers a haemorrhage.
1948
Dies on 8 January in Kendal Hospital.