Childhood and Education Journey of Joe Biden in Timeline

An overview of the childhood and early education of Joe Biden, highlighting the experiences that shaped the journey.

Joe Biden is an American politician who served as the 46th President of the United States (2021-2025). A Democrat, he represented Delaware in the U.S. Senate from 1973 to 2009. He also served as the 47th Vice President under President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2017.

Sections (7)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

November 20, 1942: Birth of Joe Biden

On November 20, 1942, Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. was born. He would later become the 46th President of the United States.

1946: Family moved to Garden City, New York

In 1946, Joe Biden's family purchased a home in Garden City, New York.

1953: Family moved to Claymont, Delaware

In 1953, when Joe Biden was ten, his family moved to an apartment in Claymont, Delaware.

1961: Graduation from Archmere Academy

In 1961, Joe Biden graduated from Archmere Academy in Claymont.

1965: Graduation from University of Delaware

In 1965, Joe Biden graduated from the University of Delaware.

1965: Received Bachelor of Arts degree

In 1965, Joe Biden received a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in history and political science from the University of Delaware.

August 27, 1966: Marriage to Neilia Hunter

On August 27, 1966, Joe Biden married Neilia Hunter in a Catholic church in Skaneateles, New York.

1968: Conditional medical deferment

Based on a physical examination, Joe Biden was given a conditional medical deferment in 1968.

1968: Earned Juris Doctor from Syracuse University College of Law

In 1968, Joe Biden earned a Juris Doctor from Syracuse University College of Law.

1968: Graduation from Syracuse University College of Law

In 1968, Joe Biden graduated from Syracuse University College of Law.

January 5, 1971: Took office on New Castle County Council

On January 5, 1971, Joe Biden took office on the New Castle County Council.

December 18, 1972: Death of wife and daughter in car accident

On December 18, 1972, Joe Biden's wife Neilia and one-year-old daughter Naomi were killed in an automobile accident in Hockessin, Delaware. His sons Beau and Hunter were injured.

1972: Elected as U.S. Senator from Delaware

In 1972, Joe Biden defeated Republican incumbent J. Caleb Boggs to become the junior U.S. senator from Delaware.

1972: Elected to U.S. Senate

In 1972, Joe Biden was elected to the U.S. Senate representing Delaware.

January 1, 1973: End of term on New Castle County Council

On January 1, 1973, Joe Biden's term on the New Castle County Council ended.

1975: Met Jill Tracy Jacobs

In 1975, Joe Biden met Jill Tracy Jacobs on a blind date.

1976: Endorsed Jimmy Carter for President

In 1976, Joe Biden was the first U.S. senator to endorse Governor Jimmy Carter for president in the Democratic primary.

June 17, 1977: Marriage to Jill Tracy Jacobs

On June 17, 1977, Joe Biden married Jill Tracy Jacobs at the United Nations chapel in New York.

1978: Re-elected to the U.S. Senate

In 1978, Joe Biden was re-elected to the U.S. Senate.

1981: Birth of daughter Ashley Biden

In 1981, Joe Biden and Jill Biden had a daughter, Ashley Biden.

1984: Re-elected to the U.S. Senate

In 1984, Joe Biden was re-elected to the U.S. Senate.

February 1988: Surgery for Intracranial Berry Aneurysm

In February 1988, Joe Biden underwent surgery to correct a leaking intracranial berry aneurysm and later had a second aneurysm surgically repaired in May. He also suffered a pulmonary embolism while recuperating.

1989: Biden Close to Credit Card Company MBNA

Since 1989, while a senator, Joe Biden was viewed as being close to the credit card company MBNA, a major contributor to his campaigns, sometimes being called the "senator from MBNA".

1990: Re-elected to the U.S. Senate

In 1990, Joe Biden was re-elected to the U.S. Senate.

1991: Co-taught seminar at Widener University School of Law

From 1991 to 2008, Joe Biden co-taught a seminar on constitutional law at Widener University School of Law as an adjunct professor.

1991: Kevin Nealon portrays Biden on Saturday Night Live

In 1991, Kevin Nealon became the first person to portray Joe Biden on Saturday Night Live.

Loading Video...

1996: Re-elected to the U.S. Senate

In 1996, Joe Biden was re-elected to the U.S. Senate.

2000: Became Senior Senator

In 2000, Joe Biden became the senior senator from Delaware after William Roth was defeated.

2002: Re-elected to the U.S. Senate

In 2002, Joe Biden was re-elected to the U.S. Senate.

2008: Jason Sudeikis portrays Biden on Saturday Night Live

During the 2008 election season, Jason Sudeikis portrayed Joe Biden on Saturday Night Live and reprised the role many times.

Loading Video...

2008: Ended teaching at Widener University School of Law

From 1991 to 2008, Joe Biden co-taught a seminar on constitutional law at Widener University School of Law as an adjunct professor.

2008: Chosen as Obama's running mate

In 2008, Barack Obama chose Joe Biden as his running mate for the presidential election.

2008: Re-elected to the U.S. Senate

In 2008, Joe Biden was re-elected to the U.S. Senate.

2008: Disclosure of medical deferment reason

In 2008, a spokesperson for Joe Biden said that his having had "asthma as a teenager" was the reason for his conditional medical deferment in 1968.

2008: Worst Year for Stocks Since 2008

In 2022, during Joe Biden's presidency, stocks had their worst year since 2008 before recovering.

November 2009: Biden's net worth in November 2009

As of November 2009, Joe Biden's net worth was $27,012.

March 23, 2010: Hot Mic Incident

On March 23, 2010, a hot mic picked up Joe Biden telling President Obama that the signing of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was "a big fucking deal".

May 2012: Supported Same-Sex Marriage

In May 2012, Joe Biden's statement that he was "absolutely comfortable" with same-sex marriage gained public attention. This statement prompted Obama to announce his support for same-sex marriage soon after.

2015: Decision Not to Run for President

During 2015, Joe Biden was uncertain about running for president, particularly due to the recent death of his son Beau, before announcing his decision not to run that October.

2015: Death of Beau Biden

In 2015, Beau Biden, Joe Biden's son, died of brain cancer.

2016: Greg Kinnear portrays Biden in Confirmation

In 2016, Greg Kinnear portrayed Joe Biden in the HBO television film "Confirmation", which covered the Clarence Thomas Supreme Court nomination hearings.

Loading Video...

2016: Biden appears in Law & Order: SVU

In 2016, Joe Biden appeared as himself in an episode of Law & Order: SVU.

Loading Video...

2018: Delivered Eulogy for John McCain

In 2018, Joe Biden gave a eulogy for Senator John McCain.

March 2019: Biden Describes Himself as a Bridge

In March 2019, Joe Biden characterized himself as a bridge to the next generation of leaders, emphasizing their potential to shape the future of the United States.

2019: Left Position at University of Pennsylvania

After leaving the vice presidency, Joe Biden became an honorary professor at the University of Pennsylvania, developing the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement. Biden remained in that position until 2019.

February 2020: Trump Administration Deal with the Taliban

In February 2020, the Trump administration reached a deal with the Taliban to completely withdraw U.S. forces from Afghanistan by May 1, 2021.

April 8, 2020: Sanders Suspends Campaign, Biden Becomes Presumptive Nominee

On April 8, 2020, Bernie Sanders suspended his campaign, making Joe Biden the Democratic Party's presumptive nominee for president.

November 2020: Biden's Net Worth Reaches $9 Million

By November 2020, the Bidens were worth $9 million, largely due to sales of Biden's books and speaking fees after his vice presidency.

2020: Various actors portray Biden on Saturday Night Live

During the 2020 election season, Joe Biden was portrayed by John Mulaney, Alex Moffat, Mikey Day, Woody Harrelson, and Jim Carrey on Saturday Night Live.

Loading Video...

January 20, 2021: Biden Inaugurated as 46th President

On January 20, 2021, Joe Biden was inaugurated as the 46th president of the United States, becoming the oldest person to assume the office at the time. The inauguration was subdued due to COVID-19 and increased security after the January 6 Capitol attack.

May 1, 2021: Original Deadline for U.S. Troop Withdrawal from Afghanistan

May 1, 2021, was the original deadline for the complete withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan, as agreed upon in a deal between the Trump administration and the Taliban in February 2020.

July 2021: Biden Urges Vaccination Amid Delta Variant Spread

In July 2021, amid a slowing COVID-19 vaccination rate and the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant, Joe Biden emphasized the importance of Americans getting vaccinated.

2021: Robust GDP Growth

Joe Biden's first year in office was characterized by robust growth in real GDP of 5.9% in 2021.

July 21, 2022: Biden tests positive for COVID-19

On July 21, 2022, Joe Biden tested positive for COVID-19 and experienced mild symptoms. He was treated with Paxlovid, according to the White House, and worked in isolation.

2022: Biden Blocks Railroad Strike

In 2022, Joe Biden blocked a national railroad strike planned by multiple labor unions.

2022: GDP Growth Cools, Recession Concerns Arise

In 2022, during Joe Biden's presidency, real GDP growth cooled to 2.1%, after slightly negative growth in the first half spurred recession concerns.

October 2023: Inflation Eases to 3.2%

During Joe Biden's presidency, inflation eased to 3.2% by October 2023, after peaking at 9.1% in June 2022.

2023: Biden on Potential Democratic Challengers

In 2023, Joe Biden responded to a question about whether any other Democrats could defeat Donald Trump by stating "Probably 50 of them."

2023: Removal of Basal-Cell Carcinoma From Chest

In 2023, Joe Biden underwent the removal of a basal-cell carcinoma from his chest, before undergoing Mohs surgery to remove skin cancer lesions from his forehead in September 4.

July 17, 2024: Biden tests positive for COVID-19 again

On July 17, 2024, Joe Biden tested positive for COVID-19 again.

October 2024: Biden Refuses to Block Port Strike

In October 2024, Joe Biden refused to block a port strike from the International Longshoremen's Association.

December 2024: Pardoned Hunter Biden

In December 2024, Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter Biden following his conviction on gun and tax charges.

2024: Dana Carvey portrays Biden on Saturday Night Live

In 2024, Dana Carvey played the role of Joe Biden on Saturday Night Live.

Loading Video...

May 18, 2025: Biden diagnosed with prostate cancer

On May 18, 2025, Joe Biden's office announced that he had been diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer with bone metastasis during a routine physical examination. He confirmed that he had begun treatment on May 30.