Karl Josias (Christian) von Bunsen 

1791 - born Korbach, Waldeck, Germany , son of Heinrich Christian (1743–1820) and Johanette Eleonor Brocki (1750–1819).

1806–1808 - Attended the gymnasium.

1808–1809 - Studied theology at Marburg.

1809 - Entered the University of Göttingen. Came to the attention of C. G. Heyne, who recommended him as German tutor to William B. Astor of New York.

1811 - Travelled with Arthur Schopenhauer to Gotha, Jena, and Weimar.

1812 - April - Appointed teacher of Hebrew and Greek at the University of Göttingen. Awarded a university prize for his Latin essay De Jure Atheniensium Hereditario.

1813 - Received the doctorate of philosophy from the University of Jena.

1813–1815 - Travelled extensively with William B. Astor in Germany and Italy. Met major intellectual figures: Friedrich von Schlegel (Vienna). Schelling and Thiersch (Munich). Studied Persian with Thiersch and law with Feuerbach. Studied Scandinavian languages during visits to Denmark and Sweden.

1815 – 1816 - Winter - Lived in Berlin. Influenced by the preaching of Friedrich Schleiermacher. Developed admiration for Barthold Georg Niebuhr.

1816–1817 - Continued studies of Persian and Arabic in Paris under Sylvestre de Sacy. Joined Astor at Florence. Became French tutor to Mr Cathcart, an English gentleman.

1817 - 1 July - Married Frances (“Fanny”) Waddington at Rome. Idea of an improved German Bible translation first suggested by his wife. Children: Heinrich Georg (1814–1885); Ernest Christian Ludwig (1819–1903); Charles Edouard Jules (1821–1887); Georg Friedrich (1824–1896); Franziska (Frances) (1826–1894); Emilie Henriette (1827–1911); Mary Charlotte Elizabeth (1830–1919); Theodora Maria Wilhelmina (1831–1862); Theodor Philipp Wilhelm Karl (1832–1892); Auguste Mathilde (1837–1867)

1818 - replaced Brandis as Secretary in Rome to B. G. Niebuhr

1822 Frederick William III of Prussia visited Rome. Bunsen gained royal favour; influenced state church reforms in Prussia. Prepared a Protestant liturgy, approved by the king.

1824 - On Niebuhr’s resignation, appointed chargé d’affaires in Rome to the Holy See

1827 - Promoted to Prussian minister at Rome.

1837 - Withdrew from Roman post after failure to resolve conflicts over mixed marriages between church and state.

1839-41 - minister to Switzerland 

1841-1854 - Prussian ambassador to London. He was initially sent to England by Frederick William IV to help establish a Protestant bishopric in Jerusalem and only later that year was appointed ambassador to the Court of St James’s.

1844 - Presented memoranda on representative government in Prussia, modelled on the English system.

1845 - Appointed Privy Councillor, with the title of Excellency.

1848 - representative of the national assembly in Frankfurt, with the Briefe des Germanicus. Supported German unification under the Prussian king. Advocated the cause of Schleswig-Holstein against Denmark.

1849 - Participated in London conferences on Schleswig-Holstein. Protested against the London Protocol as contrary to German interests.

1850 - with the Globe, 

1854 - April – Resigned as ambassador in London. Retired to Charlottenberg, near Heidelberg.

1857 - Created Baron and Peer.

1860 - died in Bonn, Germany 

Works 

Die christlichen Basiliken des christlichen Rom (1843)

Memoir on the Constitutional Rights of the Duchies of Schleswig and Holstein (London). (1848)

Aegyptens Stelle in der Weltgeschichte (6 vols 1844-1857) (published in English as Egypt's Place in Universal History).

Memorial on Dr Arnold translated into English by Anna Gurney. (1852)

Hippolytus and his age (1853); 

Christianity and mankind (1854)

Die Zeichen der Zeit (1855)

Gott in der Geschichte (1857-58)

Bibelwerk für die Gemeinde (completed after his death) (1858–1870).

Ranke, W., (ed) Correspondence with Frederick William IV (1873).

Memoirs of Baron Bunsen (published by his widow: English edition: 1867. German edition with additions: 1868–1870).