1805:
Hans Christian Andersen born in Odense on 2 April. Place of birth
unknown. His father was a poor shoemaker and his mother a washerwoman.
The family did not have a permanent address until 1807.
1812:
First visit to the theatre in Odense - the boy's fantasies begin to
assume shape and direction.
1816:
Father dies of an illness he contracted when he enlisted as a soldier
during the Napoleonic Wars in 1812-14. Mother re-marries in 1818.
1819:
A few months after his confirmation HCA travels alone to Copenhagen to
try his luck at The Royal Theatre. Under extremely humble conditions he
attempts during the following three years to gain a foothold at the
theatre as a singer, dancer or actor. Influential people take care of
him and arrange for him to get some education, as his schooling has
been much neglected.
1822:
As a final, desperate measure, HCA hands in a couple of plays to the
theatre. They are turned down, but the management want to soften the
blow and arrange for him to go to a school in Slagelse. Theatre manager
and financial deputy Jonas Collin becomes his guardian.
1826:
When the Slagelse principal, Simon Meisling, is moved to Elsinore
Grammar School, HCA follows suit. Here he writes his famous poem
'The dying Child', under the influence of his highly
problematic relationship to Meisling.
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