1982: Born Huyton, Merseyside, September 2.
2003: April - Makes Manchester City debut in a 2-0 defeat at Bolton.
2004: February - Sent off at half-time in an FA Cup tie at Tottenham with his team 3-0 down. City go on to win 4-3.
April - Storms out of Eastlands before kick-off after being dropped from the side to face Southampton.
July - Criticised by manager Kevin Keegan for causing a mass brawl in a pre-season friendly at Doncaster.
December - Stubs lit cigar in the eye of young team-mate Jamie Tandy during City's Christmas party. Fined six weeks' wages by the club. Forced to pay four weeks' salary - approximately £60,000 - immediately, with a further two weeks suspended for a year. Tandy later sued Barton, winning £65,000 in damages.
2005: May - Barton breaks leg of 35-year-old pedestrian while driving his car at 2am in Liverpool city centre.
July 22 - Involved in an altercation with a 15-year-old Everton fan at City's team hotel in Bangkok, where the team are playing in the FA Premier League Trophy.
July 27 - Fined eight weeks' wages by City after being found guilty of gross misconduct in the Bangkok incident. Agrees to undertake a programme of rehabilitation.
2006: January 30 - Hands in a transfer request, which is rejected.
September 30 - Drops his shorts in direction of Everton fans following City's 1-1 draw at Goodison Park. Later charged by the Football Association over the incident and fined £2,000.
2007: February 7 - Makes senior England debut as a 78th-minute substitute against Spain.
May 1 - Suspended by City for the rest of the season after training-ground altercation with Ousmane Dabo.
June 14 - Completes £5.8million move to Newcastle.
August 2 - Charged with assault over Dabo incident.
October 4 - Appears in court charged with Dabo assault. Indicates he will plead not guilty.
October 22 - Makes Newcastle debut in 3-1 victory over Tottenham.
December 1 - Causes controversy by describing the St James' Park crowd as "vicious".
December 27 - Arrested in Liverpool city centre.
December 28 - Charged with common assault and affray and refused bail.
2008: January 3 - Released from custody after being granted bail.
May 20 - Admits assault and affray and is jailed for six months at Liverpool Crown Court.
July 1 - Receives four-month suspended sentence for assaulting Dabo.
July 28 - Released from prison.
July 31 - The FA charge Barton with violent conduct over the Dabo incident.
August 30 - Returns as a substitute for Newcastle away to Arsenal.
September 5 - Banned by the FA for 12 matches - six of which are suspended - and fined £25,000 after admitting violent conduct charge in relation to Dabo incident.
2009: May 3 - Sent off against Liverpool for late challenge on Xabi Alonso.
May 5 - Suspended until further notice by Newcastle.
November 11 - Charged with violent conduct by FA after allegedly punching Blackburn's Morten Gamst Pedersen during a league match.
2011: August 1 - Newcastle transfer-list Barton after a series of Twitter comments criticising the club, making him available on a free transfer.
August 26 - Signs for QPR on a four-year deal and is made club captain.
September 17 - Scores first QPR goal, but is also involved in a confrontation with Karl Henry, who he later criticises on Twitter.
2012: January 2 - Receives first red card for Rangers for butting Norwich's Bradley Johnson.
March 21 - Booedby QPR fans after a poor performance against Liverpool. Criticises his treatment on Twitter.
May 13 - Dismissed for striking Manchester City's Carlos Tevez on final day of season. He goes on to knee Sergio Aguero from behind, thrust his head toward Vincent Kompany and is restrained when attempting to confront Mario Balotelli.
May 14 - Charged with two acts of violent conduct by the Football Association following his actions against Manchester City.
May 16 - QPR announce an investigation into Barton's conduct in the game against City.
May 23 - FA announce an independent regulatory commission found Barton guilty of both violent conduct charges, resulting in a ban of 12 games and a fine of £75,000.