January 12 (?). Birth of Anna Elisabeth (Annette) von Droste-Hülshoff at the moated castle of Hülshoff, Roxel, near Münster. Father: Clemens August von Droste-Hülshoff (1760-1826). Mother: Therese von Droste-Hülshoff neé von Haxthausen (1772-1853). Siblings: Maria Anna (Jenny), later Baroness von Laßberg (1795-1859). Werner (1798-1867). Ferdinand (1800-1829). The wet-nurse, Maria Catharina Plettendorf from Altenberge undertakes the care and upbringing of the sickly, seven-months child.

From summer that year Therese von Droste-Hülshoff undertakes teaching and education of Die Droste and her sister Jenny.

First lyrical attempts. 39 poems are extant, from childish random texts to poems in a 1811 sensitive tradition through to instructive contemplative lyrics among which are Das Lied des Soldaten in der Ferne (1808), Der Abend (1809) and Das Schicksal (1810).

August-September. First journey to Bökendorf, the seat of relatives on the mother’s side, near the town of Brakel in the Paderborn region.

Lessons given by Bernhard Wenzelo, the priest and steward, since April.

Twenty-two further juvenile poems, mainly influenced by Schiller, or couched in the manner of late Romanticism and Biedermeier - among them Das befreyte Deutschland and Unruhe.

November 26. First visit to the almost fifty years older university professor Anton Matthias Sprickmann (1749-1833) who remained associated with Droste as her literary correspondent and mentor until 1819.

Working on the tragedy Bertha oder Die Alpen which remained uncompleted.

January. Becomes acquainted with Catharina Busch, active as a writer, who became the mother of Levin Schücking.
July. Renewed visit to Bökendorf and surrounding area. Acquaintanceship with Wilhelm Grimm.

August. Friendship with twenty-five years older Wilhelmine von Thielmann.
October (?). The dramatic piece, Scenen aus Hülshoff comes into being.

January-October. Work on the verse epic Walther. Serious health problems.
August. Summer sojourn at Bökendorf and surrounding area. Visit to Grimms at Kassel. Acquaintanceship with Amalie Hassenpflug and Jacob Grimm. Encounter in Bökendorf with Heinrich Straube (1794-1847) her uncle August von Haxthausen's fellow student of of nearly the same age, at Göttingen university.

Early spiritual songs, among others Das Morgenrot schwimmt still entlang, Glaube, Hoffnung, Liebe.

April. Straube spends Eastertide at Hülshoff.
April-July. A stay at Bökendorf, interrupted by a course of treatment at Bad Driburg (summer) and visits to relatives in Wehrden and Hinnenburg.
September. Encounter with Straube.
Working on the unfinished novel, Ledwina. Occupied with the material until at least 1826.

Work on the first part of Das Geistliche Jahr.

Summer. Breakdown of relationship with Heinrich Straube as a result of a family intrigue.

Intensive music studies. Settings and compositions. Work on operatic projects Babilon and Der blaue Cherub.

A possible journey into the Sauerland is considered.

September-November. The journey to the Sauerland.

October-April 1826. Visits to family and friends in Bonn (Moritz von Haxthausen, Clemens von Droste-Hülshoff and Cologne (Werner von Haxthausen). Strikes up friendship with Sybille Mertens-Schaffhausen whose house is the centre of an arts circle. Acquaintanceship with numerous academics. Leaves Cologne for a visit at Wilhelmine von Thielmann’s (October-December) in Coblenz.

July 25. Death of her father.
Werner von Droste-Hülshoff assumes possession of the family estate at Haus Hülshoff.
September. Therese, Jenny and Annette von Droste-Hülshoff move to Haus Rüschhaus at Nienberge, near Münster.

Begins work on verse epic Das Hospiz auf dem großen St. Bernhard

May. Another visit to Bonn (Moritz von Haxthausen). Meeting with Sybille Mertens-Schaffhausen (Plittersdorf) and Wilhelmine von Thielmann (Bad Godesberg). Acquaintanceship with Johanna and Adele Schopenhauer (perhaps not until 1830/31).