1829
Catherine Mumford (later Mrs Booth, ‘the Army Mother') born at Ashbourne, Derbyshire (17 Jan); William Booth born at Nottingham (10 Apr).
1844
William Booth converted.
1846
Catherine Mumford converted.
1855
Marriage of William Booth and Catherine Mumford at Stockwell New Chapel, London (16 Jun).
1856
William Bramwell Booth (the Founder's eldest son and second General of the Army) born in Halifax (8 Mar).
1858
William Booth ordained as Methodist minister (27 May). (Accepted on probation 1854.)
1859
Female Teaching, Mrs Booth's first pamphlet, published (Dec).
1860
Mrs Booth's first public address (27 May, Whit Sunday).
1865
Rev William Booth began work in East London (2 Jul); The Christian Mission, founded; Eveline (Evangeline) Cory Booth (fourth General) born in London (25 Dec).
1867
First Headquarters (Eastern Star) opened in Whitechapel Road, London.
1868
The East London Evangelist - later (1870) The Christian Mission Magazine and (1879) The Salvationist - published (Oct).
1874
Christian Mission work commenced in Wales (15 Nov).
1875
Rules and Doctrines of The Christian Mission published.
1876
Revival Music published (Jan).
1878
First use of the term ‘Salvation Army' - in small appeal folder (May); ‘The Christian Mission' became ‘The Salvation Army', and the Rev William Booth became known as the General; deed poll executed, thus establishing the doctrines and principles of The Salvation Army (Aug); first corps flag presented by Mrs Booth at Coventry (28-30 Sep); Orders and Regulations for The Salvation Army issued (Oct); brass instruments first used.
1879
First corps in Scotland opened (24 Mar) and Channel Islands (14 Aug); cadets first trained; introduction of uniform; first corps band formed in Consett; issue No 1 of The War Cry published (27 Dec).
1880
First training home opened, at Hackney, London; first contingent of SA officers landed in the United States of America (10 Mar); SA work commenced in Ireland (7 May); children's meetings commenced at Blyth (30 Jul); SA work extended to Australia (5 Sep).
1881
Work begun in France (13 Mar); The Little Soldier (subsequently The Young Soldier) issued (27 Aug); The Doctrines and Disciplines of The Salvation Army prepared for use at training homes for Salvation Army officers; Headquarters removed to Queen Victoria Street, London (8 Sep).
1882
The Founder's first visit to France (Mar); former London Orphan Asylum opened as Clapton Congress Hall and National Training Barracks (13 May); work begun in Canada (21 May), India (19 Sep), Switzerland (22 Dec) and Sweden (28 Dec).
1883
Work begun in Sri Lanka (26 Jan), South Africa (4 Mar), New Zealand (1 Apr), Isle of Man (17 Jun) and Pakistan (then a part of India); first prison-gate home opened in Melbourne, Australia (8 Dec); The Doctrines and Disciplines of The Salvation Army published in a public edition.
1884
Women's Social Work inaugurated; The Soldier's Guide published (Apr); work begun in St Helena (5 May); The Salvation Army Band Journal issued (Aug); All the World issued (Nov).
1885
Orders and Regulations for Divisional Officers published (10 Jun); The Doctrines of The Salvation Army published; Purity Agitation launched; Criminal Law Amendment Act became law on 14 Aug; trial (began 23 Oct) and acquittal of Bramwell Booth - charged, with W. T. Stead, in connection with the ‘Maiden Tribute' campaign.
1886
Work begun in Newfoundland (1 Feb); first International Congress in London (28 May-4 Jun); The Musical Salvationist issued (Jul); first Self-Denial Week (4-11 Sep); first slum corps opened at Walworth, London, by ‘Mother' Webb (20 Sep); work begun in Germany (14 Nov); Orders and Regulations for Field Officers published; the Founder first visited the United States and Canada.
1887
Work began in Italy (20 Feb), Denmark (8 May), Netherlands (8 May) and Jamaica (16 Dec); the Founder's first visit to Denmark, Sweden and Norway.
1888
Young people's work organised throughout Great Britain; first food depot opened, in Limehouse, London (Jan); work begun in Norway (22 Jan); first junior soldiers' brass band (Clapton); the Army Mother's last public address at City Temple, London (21 Jun).
1889
Work begun in Belgium (5 May) and Finland (8 Nov); The Deliverer published (Jul).
1890
Work begun in Argentina (1 Jan); Orders and Regulations for Soldiers of The Salvation Army issued (Aug); the Army Mother promoted to Glory (4 Oct); In Darkest England and the Way Out, by the Founder, published (Oct); work begun in Uruguay (16 Nov); banking department opened (registered as The Salvation Army Bank, 1891; Reliance Bank Ltd, 28 Dec 1900).
1891
The Founder publicly signed ‘Darkest England' (now The Salvation Army Social Work) Trust Deed (30 Jan); £108,000 subscribed for ‘Darkest England' scheme (Feb); Land and Industrial Colony, Hadleigh, Essex, established (2 May); International Staff Band inaugurated (Oct); work begun in Zimbabwe (21 Nov) and Zululand (22 Nov); the Founder's first visit to South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and India; the charter of The Methodist and General Assurance Society acquired.
1892
Eastbourne (UK) verdict against Salvationists quashed in the High Court of Justice (27 Jan); Band of Love inaugurated; League of Mercy begun in Canada (Dec).
1893
Grace-Before-Meat scheme instituted; The Officer issued (Jan).
1894
Second International Congress (Jul); work begun in Hawaiian Islands (13 Sep) and Java (now part of Indonesia) (24 Nov); naval and military league (later red shield services) established (Nov); Swiss Supreme Court granted religious rights to SA (Dec).
1895
Work begun in British Guiana (now Guyana) (24 Apr), Iceland (12 May), Japan (4 Sep) and Gibraltar (until 1968).
1896
Young people's legion (Jan) and corps cadet brigades (Feb) inaugurated; work begun in Bermuda (12 Jan) and Malta (25 Jul until 1972); first SA exhibition, Agricultural Hall, London, England (1-10 Aug).
1897
First united young people's meetings (later termed ‘councils') (14 Mar); first International Social Council in London, England (28, 29 Sep); first SA hospital founded at Nagercoil, India (Dec).
1898
Orders and Regulations for Social Officers published; work begun in Barbados (30 Apr) and Alaska; first united corps cadet camp at Hadleigh (Whitsun).
1899
First bandsmen's councils, Clapton (10 Dec).
1901
Work begun in Trinidad (7 Aug).
1902
Work begun in St Lucia (Sep) and Grenada.
1903
Migration Department inaugurated (became Reliance World Travel Ltd, 1981; closed 31 May 2001); work begun in Antigua.
1904
Third International Congress (24 Jun-8 Jul); Founder received by King Edward VII at Buckingham Palace (24 Jun); Founder's first motor campaign (Aug); work begun in Panama (Dec).
1905
The Founder campaigned in the Holy Land, Australia and New Zealand (Mar-Jun); first emigrant ship chartered by SA sailed for Canada (26 Apr); opening of International Staff Lodge (later College, now International College for Officers) (11 May); work begun in St Vincent (Aug). Freedom of London conferred on the Founder (26 Oct); Freedom of Nottingham conferred on the Founder (6 Nov).
1906
The YP (later The Warrior, then Vanguard) and The Salvation Army Year Book issued; Freedom of Kirkcaldy conferred on the Founder (16 Apr).
1907
Anti-Suicide Bureau established (Jan); Home League inaugurated (28 Jan); The Bandsman and Songster (later The Musician) issued (6 Apr); honorary degree of DCL, Oxford, conferred on the Founder (26 Jun); work begun in Costa Rica (5 Jul).
1908
Work begun in Korea (Oct).
1909
Leprosy work commenced in Java (now part of Indonesia) (15 Jan); SA work begun in Chile (Oct).
1910
Work begun in Peru, Paraguay and Sumatra (now part of Indonesia).
1912
Founder's last public appearance, in Royal Albert Hall, London (9 May); General William Booth promoted to Glory (20 Aug); William Bramwell Booth appointed General (21 Aug).
1913
Inauguration of life-saving scouts (21 Jul); work begun in Celebes (now part of Indonesia) (15 Sep) and Russia (until 1923).
1914
Fourth International Congress (Jun).
1915
Work begun in British Honduras (now Belize) (Jun) and Burma (now Myanmar); life-saving guards inaugurated (17 Nov).
1916
Work begun in China (Jan until 1951), in St Kitts and in Portuguese East Africa (now Mozambique) (officially recognised 1923).
1917
Work begun in Virgin Islands (USA) (Apr); chums inaugurated (23 Jun); Order of the Founder instituted (20 Aug).
1918
Work commenced in Cuba (Jul).
1919
Work begun in Czechoslovakia (19 Sep until 1950).
1920
Work begun in Nigeria (15 Nov) and Bolivia (Dec).
1921
Work begun in Kenya (Apr); sunbeams inaugurated (3 Nov).
1922
Work begun in Zambia (1 Feb), Brazil (1 Aug) and Ghana (Aug); publication of a second Handbook of Salvation Army Doctrine.
1923
Work begun in Latvia (until 1939).
1924
Work begun in Hungary (24 Apr until 1949), in Surinam (10 Oct) and The Færoes (23 Oct).
1927
Work begun in Austria (27 May), Estonia (31 Dec until 1940) and Curacao (until 1980); first International Young People's Staff Council (May-Jun).
1928
General Bramwell Booth's last public appearance - the stonelaying of the International (William Booth Memorial) Training College (now William Booth College), Denmark Hill, London (10 May).
1929
First High Council (8 Jan-13 Feb); Comr Edward J. Higgins elected General; General Bramwell Booth promoted to Glory (16 Jun); Army work begun in Colombia (until 1965).
1930
Inception of goodwill league; Order of the Silver Star (now Fellowship of the Silver Star) inaugurated (in USA, extended to other lands in 1936); work begun in Hong Kong; Commissioners' Conference held in London (Nov).
1931
Work begun in Uganda and the Bahamas (May); The Salvation Army Act 1931 received royal assent (Jul).
1932
Work begun in Namibia.
1933
Work begun in Yugoslavia (15 Feb until 1948), Devil's Island, French Guiana (1 Aug until closing of the penal settlement in 1952) and Tanzania (29 Oct).
1934
Work begun in Algeria (10 Jun until 1970); second High Council elected Commander Evangeline Booth General (3 Sep); work begun in Congo (Kinshasa) (14 Oct); General Evangeline Booth took command of The Salvation Army (11 Nov).
1935
Work begun in Singapore (28 May).
1936
Work begun in Egypt (until 1949).
1937
Work begun in Congo (Brazzaville) (Mar), The Philippines (6 Jun) and Mexico (Oct).
1938
Torchbearer group movement inaugurated (Jan); All the World re-issued (Jan); work spread from Singapore to Malaysia.
1939
Third High Council elected Comr George Lyndon Carpenter General (24 Aug); General George Lyndon Carpenter took command of The Salvation Army (1 Nov).
1941
Order of Distinguished Auxiliary Service instituted (24 Feb); International Headquarters destroyed in London Blitz (10 May).
1943
Inauguration of The Salvation Army Medical Fellowship (16 Feb) (SA Nurses' Fellowship until 1987).
1944
Service of thanksgiving to mark the centenary of the conversion of William Booth (in 1844) held in St Paul's Cathedral, London (2 Jun).
1946
Fourth High Council elected Comr Albert Orsborn General (9 May); General Albert Orsborn took command of The Salvation Army (21 Jun).
1948
First Army worldwide broadcast (28 Apr).
1950
Work begun in Haiti (5 Feb); first TV broadcast by a General of The Salvation Army; official constitution of students' fellowship; first International Youth Congress held in London (10-23 Aug); reopening of Staff College (later International College for Officers) (10 Oct).
1954
Fifth High Council elected Comr Wilfred Kitching General (11 May); General Wilfred Kitching took command of The Salvation Army (1 Jul).
1956
Work begun in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (31 Aug); first International Corps Cadet Congress (19-31 Jul).
1959
Over-60 clubs inaugurated (Oct).
1962
Work begun in Puerto Rico (Feb).
1963
Sixth High Council elected Comr Frederick Coutts General (1 Oct); Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother declared International Headquarters open (13 Nov); General Frederick Coutts took command of The Salvation Army (23 Nov).
1965
Queen Elizabeth II attended the International Centenary commencement (24 Jun); Founders' Day Service held in Westminster Abbey, London (2 Jul); work re-established in Taiwan (pioneered 1928) (Oct).
1967
Work begun in Malawi (13 Nov).
1969
Seventh High Council elected Comr Erik Wickberg General (23 Jul); The Salvation Army Handbook of Doctrine new edition published (Aug); General Erik Wickberg took command of The Salvation Army (21 Sep).
1970
Work begun in Bangladesh with cyclone relief measures (25 Nov).
1971
Work begun in Spain (23 Jul) and Portugal (25 Jul).
1972
Work begun in Venezuela (30 Jun).
1973
Work begun in Fiji (14 Nov).
1974
Eighth High Council elected Comr Clarence Wiseman General (13 May); General Clarence Wiseman took command of The Salvation Army (6 Jul).
1975
Work begun in Costa Rica.
1976
Work begun in Guatemala (Jun); Mexico and Central America Territory (now Latin America North Territory and Mexico Territory) formed (1 Oct).
1977
Ninth High Council elected Comr Arnold Brown General (5 May); General Arnold Brown took command of The Salvation Army (5 Jul).
1978
Fifth International Congress (30 Jun-9 Jul), with opening ceremony attended by HRH the Prince of Wales.
1979
The Salvation Army Boys' Adventure Corps (SABAC) launched (21 Jan).
1980
Inauguration of International Staff Songsters (8 Mar); The Salvation Army Act 1980 received royal assent (1 Aug); work begun in French Guiana (1 Oct).
1981
Tenth High Council elected Comr Jarl Wahlström General (23 Oct); General Jarl Wahlström took command of The Salvation Army (14 Dec).
1984
International Conference of Leaders held in Berlin, East Germany (1-10 May).
1985
Work begun in Colombia (21 Apr) and Marshall Islands (1 Jun); second International Youth Congress (17-23 Jul) held in Macomb, Illinois, USA; work begun in Angola (4 Oct) and Ecuador (30 Oct).
1986
Work begun in Tonga (9 Jan); Salvationist first issued (15 Mar);
11th High Council elected Comr Eva Burrows General (2 May); General Eva Burrows took command of The Salvation Army (9 Jul); International Development Conference held at Sunbury Court, England (1-4 Sep).
1988
Work begun in Liberia (1 May); International Conference of Leaders held in Lake Arrowhead, California, USA (6-16 Sep).
1989
Work begun in El Salvador (1 Apr).
1990
Work begun in East Germany (Mar), Czechoslovakia (May), Hungary (Jun) and re-established in Latvia (Nov); sixth International Congress held in London (29 Jun-8 Jul); United Kingdom Territory established (1 Nov).
1991
Restructuring of International Headquarters as an entity separate from UK Territory (1 Feb); work reopened in Russia (6 Jul); International Conference of Leaders held in London, UK (30 Jul-9 Aug).
1992
Opening of new USA National Headquarters building in Alexandria, VA (3 May).
1993
The 12th High Council elected Comr Bramwell H. Tillsley General (28 Apr); General Bramwell H. Tillsley took command of The Salvation Army (9 Jul); work begun in Micronesia.
1994
General Bramwell H. Tillsley retired due to ill health (18 May); 13th High Council elected Comr Paul A. Rader General (23 Jul); General Paul A. Rader took command of The Salvation Army immediately; work begun in Guam and Micronesia.
1995
International Conference of Leaders held in Hong Kong (19-28 Apr); all married women officers granted rank in their own right (1 May); work begun in Dominican Republic (1 Jul); work reopened in Estonia (14 Aug); following relief and development programmes, work begun in Rwanda (5 Nov).
1996
Work begun in Sabah (East Malaysia) (Mar).
1997
International Youth Forum held in Cape Town, South Africa (Jan); first-ever congress held in Russia/CIS; Salvation Army leaders in Southern Africa signed commitment to reconciliation for past stand on apartheid; work begun in Botswana (20 Nov).
1998
International Conference of Leaders held in Melbourne, Australia (12-20 Mar); publication of a fourth Handbook of Doctrine entitled Salvation Story (Mar); International Commission on Officership opened in London, England (Oct).
1999
International Education Symposium held in London, England (Mar); work begun in Romania (May); 14th High Council elected Comr John Gowans General (15 May); General John Gowans took command of The Salvation Army (23 Jul).
2000
International Commission on Officership closed and subsequent Officership Survey carried out (Mar-May); work begun in Macau (25 Mar); The Salvation Army registered as a denomination in Sweden (10 Mar); International Conference of Leaders held in Atlanta, Georgia, USA (22-25 Jun); seventh International Congress held in Atlanta, Georgia, USA (28 Jun-2 Jul) (first held outside UK); work begun in Honduras (23 Nov).
2001
International Conference for Training Principals held in London, England (Mar); International Theology and Ethics Symposium held in Winnipeg, Canada (Jun); International Music Ministries Forum held in London, England (Jul); International Poverty Summit held on the Internet and Lotus Notes Intranet (Nov 2001-Feb 2002).
2002
The 15th High Council elected Comr John Larsson General (6 Sep); General John Larsson took command of The Salvation Army (13 Nov).
2004
International Conference of Leaders held in New Jersey, USA (29 Apr-7 May); International Music and Other Creative Ministries Forum (MOSAIC) held in Toronto, Canada (Jun); New International Headquarters building at 101 Queen Victoria Street, London, England, opened by Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal (9 Nov); IHQ Emergency Services coordinates disaster relief work after Indian Ocean tsunami struck (26 Dec).
2005
Indian Ocean Tsumani Summit held in London, England (Jan); Eastern Europe Command redesignated Eastern Europe Territory; Singapore, Malaysia and Myanmar Command redesignated Singapore, Malaysia and Myanmar Territory (both 1 Mar); International Literary and Publications Conference held at Alexandria, Virginia, USA (22-29 Apr); European Youth Congress held in Prague, Czech Republic (4-8 Aug); All-Africa Congress held in Harare, Zimbabwe (24-28 Aug); work in Lithuania officially recognised by IHQ, and Germany Territory redesignated Germany and Lithuania Territory (Sep); ‘Project Warsaw' launched to begin Army's work in Poland (23-25 Sep); East Africa Territory redesignated Kenya Territory, with Uganda Region given command status (1 Nov)
2006
The 16th High Council elected Comr Shaw Clifton General (28 Jan); General Shaw Clifton took command of The Salvation Army (2 Apr); Salvation Army Scouts and Guides World Jamboree held in Almere, The Netherlands (Aug); 2nd International Theology and Ethics Symposium held in Johannesburg, South Africa (Sep).