5 July 1895

Born in London to Stephen and Clara Jacob, the seventh son and the last child in a family of ten

1898

His father, Stephen Jacob, died in India (Jacob was just three years old)

Educated at Dulwich College

26 August 1914

Enlisted in the Infantry: active service in World War I

18 September 1916 

Closest brother Anstey died in the Somme

April 1917

Taken POW, one of 60 survivors out of a battalion of 800

Studied at the Royal College of Music, London, with Stanford, Parry, Howells, Boult and Vaughan Williams

Taught briefly at Birkbeck and Morley Colleges, also in London

1924

    Married his first wife, Sidney Gray

1926

Returned to the RCM as a lecturer for 40 years. He was on the teaching staff there from 1924 until his retirement in 1966, and his pupils included Malcolm Arnold, Imogen Holst, Joseph Horovitz, Elizabeth Maconchy and Bernard Stevens

1935

Gained doctorate (DMus) (London)

1943

Awarded the John Collard Fellowship by the Worshipful Company of Musicians

1946

Awarded FRCM (Fellow of the Royal College of Music)

1947

Awarded honorary FRAM (Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music)

1951

Provided music for the Festival of Britain

1953

Arranged the National Anthem with Fanfare for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II  

1959

BBC TV documentary 'Gordon Jacob' (directed by Ken Russell)

8 August 1959

Married Margaret Gray    

1966

Retired from his professorship at the Royal College of Music

1968

Awarded the CBE in the Queen's New Years Honours List

1981

Guest of honour at an International Conference of Symphonic Wind Bands

8 June 1984

Died, Saffron Walden     

By the time Gordon Jacob died on 8 June 1984, aged 89, he had written over 700 pieces of music and several books. In 1995, the book Gordon Jacob, A centenary biography by Eric Wetherell was published.