| 1791 | June 9 - John Howard Payne is born in East Hampton, New York. |
| 1805 | Works as a clerk in a counting house where he edited the weekley journal Thespian Mirror |
| 1806 | Enters Union College and publishes 25 periodicals called "The Pastime" |
| 1808 | Leaves college to pursue a career on the state |
| 1809 | February 24 - Makes his debut as an actor at the Park Theatre in New York |
| 1813 | Travels to England and is the first American actor to appear on the British stage |
| 1822 | Composes HOME SWEET HOME while in London |
| 1823 | HOME SWEET HOME is sung for the first time at the Covent Garnden in England |
| 1832 | Payne returns to the United States |
| 1841 | Appointed as American Consul to Tunis, Africa |
| 1852 | April 10 - Dies in Tunis Africa |