• October 2, 1941:  Born in Flint, MI
  • 1959:  Granduates from high school in Davison, MI
  • 1959-1961:  Studies at Albion College
  • 1962-1964:  Studies at the University of Michigan, Flint Campus; earns B.A. in American literature
  • April 1964:  Begins graduate studies at Wayne State University
  • November 1, 1964:  Founds Detroit Artists’ Workshop
  • December 1964:  First arrested for marijuana possession and sale; later pleads guilty to a reduced charge of possession
  • June 12, 1965:  Marries Magdalene “Leni” Arndt
  • July 1965:  Reads at Berkeley Poetry Conference
  • Fall 1965:  Withdraws from WSU
  • Summer 1965:  Sinclair arrested for second marijuana offense.
  • October 1965:  Sinclair again pleads guilty to charges of marijuana possession.
  • February 24, 1966:  Sentenced to six months in the Detroit House of Corrections
  • Detroit police raid Sinclair's home and arrest fifty-six people.  Sinclair is again charged with possession and sale.
  • February 1967:  John and Leni found Trans-Love Energies Unlimited.
  • May 4, 1967:  Sinclair's first daughter, Sunny Marion, is born.
  • August 1967:  Assumes management of MC5
  • May-June 1968:  Following two firebombings, Trans-Love Tribe moves from Detroit to1520 Hill Street, Ann Arbor.
  • Novemeber 1968:  Founds, with Pun Plamondon, the White Panther Party
  • July 1969:  Sentenced to 9 1/2 to 10 years in prison for third marijuana arrest
  • January 17, 1970:  Sinclair's second daughter, Celia Sanchez Mao, is born.
  • March 8, 1970:  John writes “For Leni on her 30th Birthday” from his cell in the Marquette State Prison.
  • December 10, 1971:  15,000 assembe at the Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor for the “Free John Now” Benefit Concert, headlined by John Lennon and Yoko Ono.
  • December 13, 1971:  Michigan Supreme Court orders Sinclair's release from prison, upholding his contention that Michigan’s marijuana laws are unconstitutional.  The court later overturns his conviction.
  • April 30, 1971:  The White Panther Party becomes the Rainbow People’s Party.
  • 1972:  Founds, with Peter Andrews, the Rainbow Multi-media Corporation
  • 1972-1974:  Co-produces the Ann Arbor Blues and Jazz Festival
  • October 1974 :  The Rainbown Multi-Media Corporation collapses following the financial failure of the 1974 Ann Arbor Blues and Jazz Festival in Exile.  Sinclair founds Rainbow Productions, Inc. and relocates the company to Detroit.
  • May 1977:  Sinclair is named state coordinator for the Michigan chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML).
  • 1977:  John and Leni separate.