1889 Born at Messkirch in the Black Forest region of Baden-Württemberg, in Germany. Son of Friedrich, sexton and cellarer, and Johanna. Heidegger was always intensely reticent about personal matters relating to his life.

1903-1906 Attended Gymnasium of Constance probably to study for the priesthood, after attending the public school in his home town. Received his diploma from Bertholds-Gymnasium in Freiburg in 1909.

1910 Attended Freiburg University, finishing his studies in philosophy in 1916. Wrote his dissertation on The Theory of Judgment in Psychologism. Then published a book the Grammatica speculativa then attributed to John Duns Scotus (later proven to be the work of Thomas of Erfurt). This Habilitationsschrift (probationary thesis) entitled Heidegger to teach philosophy at Freiburg as a privatdozent. This thesis was written under the direction if H. Rickert. Husserl came to Freiburg in 1916, and in 1920 Heidegger became Husserl’s assistantthe last three years as the assistant to Husserl.

1923 Moved to a professorship at University of Marlburg. Here he befriended Rudolf Bultmann and thus came into contact with Karl Barth’s theology, which led to the study of Keirkegaard and Luther. Heidegger published Being and Time in 1927, which he dedicated to Husserl.

1928 After Husserl’s retirement, Heidegger assumed the Husserl’s chair of philosophy at Freiburg at Husserl’s request.

1929 Published an original historical study of Kant (Kant and the Problem of Metaphysics) and his inaugural address, What is Metaphysics?

1933 Heidegger became rector of Frieburg after the previous rector was ousted by the Nazis. In his inaugural address, Heidegger acclaimed National Socialism. Within a year, Heidegger resigned as rector, after realizing that he was gravely mistaken about National Socialism.

1945-1951 Heidegger was barred from teaching by the Allied occupation powers, who considered him a Nazi sympathizer. After 1951 he still spent most of his time in his Heimat in the Black Forest, coming to Freiburg to deliver lectures. He retired from teaching in 1959, spending his final years in quiet seclusion. Among his postwar publications, mostly containing lectures he deliver, are An Introduction to Metaphysics, What does Thinking Mean?, What is Philosophy?, The Question of Technology.