| 1827 | |
| March 14 | Applied to Secretary of the Navy Samuel Southard for surveying duty. |
| March 31 | Son, John Wilkes, born. |
| 1828 | |
| July 15 | Withdrew application for surveying duty and requested duty with proposed Exploring Expedition. |
| November 18 | Ordered to New York to procure instruments for Exploring Expedition. |
| 1829 | |
| January 3 | Daughter, Jane Wilkes, born. |
| 1830 | |
| April 21 | Ordered to Boston, Capt. George Storer, at New York; cruised to Mediterranean. |
| November 15 | Transferred to Fairfield, Capt. Foxhall Parker, at Port Mahon. |
| 1831 | |
| May 10 | Detached from Fairfield and placed on leave awaiting orders. |
| December 7 | Ordered to Boxer, Lt. Benjamin Page, Jr., at Boston; orders cancelled because of ill health. |
| 1832 | |
| May 14 | Ordered to Newport for duty in connection with survey of Narragansett Bay. |
| 1833 | |
| February 4 | Son, Edmund Wilkes, born. |
| February 16 | Ordered to Washington to take charge of Depot of Charts and Instruments; reported for this duty March 12. |
| 1834 | |
| September 10 | Requested permission of Board of Navy Commissioners to erect, at his own expense, a building on Capitol Hill to house an observatory. |
| 1836 | |
| August 8 | Sailed for Europe from New York to purchase instruments and books for Exploring Expedition. |
| 1837 | |
| March 15 | Asked by Secretary of the Navy Mahlon Dickerson to take a post in the astronomical department of Exploring Expedition. |
XVIII
