An ongoing chronology – corrections and additions very welcome. See here for biographical details of composers.

(additional dates after individual entries denote first performance when known, or time period when composed)

(Pre-1800)

1751
Thomas Arne: Eight Overtures in Eight Parts

1760
William Boyce: Eight Symphonies in Eight Parts, op 2 (No 1 in Bb, No 2 in A, No 3 in C, No 4 in Fmin, No 5 in D, No 6 in F, No 7 in Bb, No 8 in Dmin)
William Herschel: Symphony No 2 in D
William Herschel: Symphony No 4 in F minor

1761
Carl Friedrich Abel: Six Overtures/Sinfonias op 1
Thomas Erskine (the Earl of Kelly): Six Overtures in Eight Parts, op 1 (No 1 in D, No 2 in C, No 3 in D, No 4 in Eb, No 5 in G, No 6 in F)
William Herschel: Symphony No 8 in C minor
William Herschel: Symphony No 12 in D

1762
Carl Friedrich Abel: Six Overtures/Sinfonias op 4
William Herschel: Symphony No 13 in D
William Herschel: Symphony No 14
William Herschel: Symphony No 15 in Eb
William Herschel: Symphony No 17 in C

1765
J C Bach: Six Symphonies, op 3 (No 1 in D, No 2 in C, No 3 in Eb, No 4 in Bb, No 5 in F, No 6 in G)
Bach-Abel subscription concert series founded

1766
John Collett: Six Symphonies, op 2 (includes Symphony op 2 No 5 in Eb, (first in four movements); op 2 No 6 in G)

1767
Karl Friedrich Abel: Six Symphonies, op 7
Thomas Arne: Four New Overtures or Symphonies (No 1 in C, No 2 in F, No 3 in Eb, No 4 in Cmin)

1770
J C Bach: Six Symphonies, op 6 (No 1 in G, No 2 in D, No 3 in Eb, No 4 in Bb, No 5 in Eb, No 6 in Gmin)
John Marsh: Symphony No 1 in D (revised 1780) (lost)

1771
Karl Friedrich Abel: Six Symphonies, op 10

1772
J A Fisher: Six Symphonies in Eight Parts
John Marsh: Symphony No 2 in D (aka No 3) (lost)
John Marsh: Symphony No 3 in G (aka No 4) (revised 1779) (lost)
John Marsh: Symphony No 4 in D (aka No 5) (revised 1778) (lost)

1773
J C Bach: Three Symphonies, op 9 (No 1 in Bb, No 2 in Eb)

1775
J C Bach: Six Symphonies, op 8 (No 2 in G, No 3 in D, No 4 in F)
John Marsh: Symphony No 5 in F (aka No 9) (lost)
John Marsh: Symphony No 6 in F (aka No 11) (lost)

1777
John Marsh: Symphony No 7 in C, for two orchestras? (aka No 17) (lost)
John Marsh: Symphony No 8 in C (aka No 20) (revised for two orchestras, 1780) (lost)

1778
Karl Friedrich Abel: Six Symphonies, op 14
John Marsh: Symphony No 9 in G, op 26 No 3 (aka No 22,Favorite Symphony No 8)
John Marsh: Symphony No 10 in Eb, for two orchestras, op 2 “Conversation Symphony” (aka No 23)
William Smethergell: Symphony No 1, op 2

1780
John Marsh: Symphony No 11 in D (aka No 29) (revised 1789) (lost)
John Marsh: Symphony No 12 in Bb, op 4 (aka No 30, Favorite Symphony No 2)

1781
John Marsh: Symphony No 13 in Bb, op 3 (aka No 32, Favorite Symphony No 1) (revised 1782)
Samuel Wesley: Symphony (No 1) in D major ‘Sinfonia obligato’
Samuel Wesley: Symphony (No 2) in A major (mostly lost)

1782
J C Bach: Six Symphonies, op 18 (No 1 in Eb, No 4 in D, No 5 in E) (No 1, 3 and 5 for double orchestra)
John Marsh: Symphony No 14 in D (No 33) (lost)
John Valentine: Eight Easy Symphonies (Bodleian Library)

1783
John Marsh: Symphony No 15 in Bb (aka No 35) (revised 1791) (lost)
John Marsh: Symphony No 16 in Eb, op 19 (aka No 37, Favorite Symphony No 5)

1784
John Marsh: Symphony No 17 in D, op 9 (aka No 41, Favorite Symphony No 3)
John Marsh: Symphony No 18 in C (aka No 42) (lost)
Samuel Wesley: Symphony (no 3) in A major (‘1784 or after’, aka No 5)
Samuel Wesley: Symphony (No 4) in D major (aka No 2)
Samuel Wesley: Symphony (No 5) in E flat major

1785
Karl Friedrich Abel: Six Symphonies, op 17

1787
Muzio Clementi: Symphony in Bb, op 18 No 1
Muzio Clementi: Symphony in D, op 18 No 2

1788
John Marsh: Symphony No 19 in F, op 12 (aka No 45, Favorite Symphony No 4

1789
John Marsh: Symphony No 20 in Bb (aka No 46) (revised 1791) (lost)
John Marsh: Symphony No 21 in C (aka No 47) (lost)
John Marsh: Symphony No 22 in C (aka No 50) (lost)

1790
William Smethergell: Symphony No 2 in Bb, op 5
John Marsh: Symphony No 23 in D (aka No 51) (lost)
John Marsh: Symphony No 24 in Eb, op 25 “La Chasse” (aka No 52, Favorite Symphony No 7)

1791
Franz Joseph Haydn: Symphony No 93 in D major
Franz Joseph Haydn: Symphony No 94 in G major, “Surprise”
Franz Joseph Haydn: Symphony No 95 in C minor
Franz Joseph Haydn: Symphony No 96 in D major, “Miracle”

1792
Franz Joseph Haydn: Symphony No 97 in C major
Franz Joseph Haydn: Symphony No 98 in B-flat major

1793
Franz Joseph Haydn: Symphony No 99 in E-flat major

1794
Franz Joseph Haydn: Symphony No 100 in G major “Military” (1793-94)
Franz Joseph Haydn: Symphony No 101 in D major “The Clock” (1793-94)
Franz Joseph Haydn: Symphony No 102 in B-flat major
John Marsh: Symphony No 25 in D (aka No 53) (lost)

1795
Franz Joseph Haydn: Symphony No 103 in E-flat major,“Drumroll”
Franz Joseph Haydn: Symphony No 104 in D major “London”
John Marsh: Symphony No 26 in Eb “Military” (aka No 54) (lost; piano arrangement, “Chicester Volunteers,” survives)

1796
John Marsh: Symphony No 27 in D, op 20 (aka No 56, Favorite Symphony No 6)

1797
John Marsh: Symphony No 28 in C (aka No 57) (lost)
John Marsh: Symphony No 29 in D (aka No 58) (lost)

(1800-1899)

1801
William Horsley: Three Symphonies
John Marsh: Symphony No 30 in e (aka No 64) (lost)

1802
John Marsh: Symphony No 31 in Bb (aka No 66) (lost)
John Marsh: Symphony No 32 in D (aka No 67) (lost)
John Marsh: Symphony No 33 in D (aka No 68) (lost)
John Marsh: Symphony No 34 in G (aka No69) (lost)
Samuel Wesley: Symphony (No 6) in Bb major

1805
John Marsh: Symphony No 35 in F (aka No 72) (lost)

1807
Muzio Clementi: Symphony No 1 in C Major WO 32 (originally in Bb, fp 1832)

1810
John Marsh: Symphony No 36 in Eb (aka No 76) (lost)

1813
Muzio Clementi: Symphony No 2 in D Major WO 33 (fp 1819)

1814
William Crotch: Symphony in F Major
Charles Neate: Symphony (“No 1”)

1816
Muzio Clementi: Symphony No 3 in G, WO 34 “Great National” (based on “God Save the King”) (fp 1824)

John Marsh: Symphony No 37 in F (aka No 79) (lost)
John Marsh: Symphony No 38 in G (aka No 80) (lost)
John Marsh: Symphony No 39 in D (aka No 81) (lost0

1817
William Crotch: Symphony in Eb Major (unfinished)

1819
Paul Alday: Grand Symphony No 1 in C Major
Cipriani Potter: Symphony No 1 in G minor (revised 1824-6)

1820
Louis Sphor: Symphonies 1 and 2 played at the Philhamonic Society concrts, Argyll Rooms

1821
Phillip Cipriani Potter: Symphony No 2 in Bb minor (revised 1839)

1822
Muzio Clementi: Symphony No 4 in D Major, WO 35 (originally in C)

1825
Beethoven: Symphony No 9 (first UK performance, Argyll Rooms, London, 21 March, Philharmonic Society)

1826
Charles Lucas: Sinfonia No 1 in C (revised 1834)
Phillip Cipriani Potter: Symphony No 6 in C minor (aka No 3)
Phillip Cipriani Potter: Symphony No 7 in F major (aka No 4)

1828
Phillip Cipriani Potter: Symphony No 8 in E flat major (revised 1828, and new slow movement, 1846)
Sir George Macfarren: Symphony No 1 in C major
Ignaz Moscheles Symphony in C major op 81

1829
Michael Balfe: Symphony (aka Sinfonia or Sinfonietta)
Charles Lucas: Sinfonia No 2 in A
Sir George Macfarren: Symphony No 2 in D minor

1830
Charles Lucas: Sinfonia No 3 in Bb major
George Onslow: Symphony No 1, op 41

1831
Sir George Macfarren: Symphony No 3 in E minor
Thomas Molleson Mudie: Symphony in Bb (lost)
George Onslow: Symphony No 2, op 42

1832
William Sterndale Bennett: Symphony No 1 in E flat
Phillip Cipriani Potter: Symphony No 10 in G minor (1828-32) (aka No 6)

1833
Phillip Cipriani Potter: Symphony No 11 in D major (aka No 7)
Sir George Macfarren: Symphony No 4 in F minor
William Sterndale Bennett: Symphony No 2 in D minor
William Sterndale Bennett: Symphony No 3 (lost, surviving overture in D minor may be a part)

1834
George Onslow: Symphony No 3 (1833-4) (expanded from string quintet op 32)
Phillip Cipriani Potter: Symphony No 12 in C minor
Phillip Cipriani Potter: Symphony No 13 in D Major (lost)
William Sterndale Bennett: Symphony No 14 in A major (lost)
Phillip Cipriani Potter: Symphony No 15 in D Major (aka No 14)

1835
Sir George Macfarren: Symphony No 5 in A minor
Louis Spohr: Symphony No 4 (world premiere, London, 23 Feb)

1836
William Sterndale Bennett: Symphony No 5 in G minor (1835-6)
Sir George Macfarren: Symphony No 6 in B flat major

1837
William Sterndale Bennett: Symphony No 6 in B minor (lost, was probably incomplete)

1840
William Sterndale Bennett: Symphony No 7 (1838-40, lost, may have been sketches only)
Sir George Macfarren: Symphony No 7 in C sharp minor (1839-40) (performed at a Philharmonic concert, 9 June 1845)
Louis Spohr: Symphony No 5 (world premiere, London, 9 March)
Louis Spohr: Symphony No 6 (world premiere, London, 6 April)

1842
Mendelssohn: Scottish Symphony, London premiere, Philhamonic Society, June 13

1844
Charles Edward Horsley: Symphony in D minor (circa 1842-44, Leipzig)
Henry Litolff: Concerto Symphonique No 2 in B minor (circa 1842-44, Leipzig)

1845
Laura Wilson Barker: Symphony, performed at York Choral Society concert
John Lodge Ellerton: Symphony No 1 in F, op 65 (fp London, Dec 11, 1849)
John Lodge Ellerton: Symphony No 2 in D, op 66 (fp London 1847)
Sir George Macfarren: Symphony No 8 in D major

1846
Alfred Julius Becher: Symphony on D minor
George Onslow: Symphony No 4, op 71
Phillip Cipriani Potter: Symphony in Eb
Henry Litolff: Concerto Symphonique No 3 in E-flat major, op 45

1847
William Baly: Symphony (fp Hanover Square Rooms, July 10 1847)
Henry Charles Banister: Symphony No 1, in D

1848
Henry Charles Banister: Symphony No 2 in E flat
Henry Leslie: Symphony No 1 in F (fp Amateur Musical Society cond. Balfe)
Louis Spohr: Symphony No 8 (world premiere, London, 1 May)

1850
Henry Charles Banister: Symphony No 3 in A minor

1852
Henry Litolff: Concerto Symphonique No 4 in D minor, op 102

1854
Emanuel Aguilar: Symphony No 3

1857
John Lodge Ellerton: Symphony No 3 in D minor, op 120 “Waldsymphonie”
John Lodge Ellerton: Symphony no 4 in E flat, op 126
Joseph Street: Symphony No 1 in Eb, op 4

1858
Henry Charles Banister: Symphony No 4 in A
John Lodge Ellerton: Symphony No 5 in C, op 123
John Lodge Ellerton: Symphony no 6 in E minor, op 127

1862
Joseph Street: Symphony No 2 in D major, op 14

1863
Alice Mary Smith: Symphony in C minor
John Francis Barnett: Symphony in A minor

1864
William Sterndale Bennett: Symphony No 8 in G minor, op 43 (1863-4, revised 1867, sometimes unnumbered)

1865
Arthur O’Leary: Symphony

1866
Arthur Sullivan: Symphony in E “Irish”

1867
Alfred Holmes: Symphony 1, “Jeanne d’Arc,” for solo voices, chorus and orchestra (fp St. Petersburg, 1867)
Henry Litolff: Concerto Symphonique No 5 in C minor, op 123

1869
Frederick Cowen: Symphony No 1 in C minor (St James Hall) (score lost?)
Thomas Wingham: Symphony No 1 in D minor

1870
Alfred Holmes: Symphony 3, “The Siege of Paris” (fp Paris, 1870)
Alfred Holmes: Symphony 4, “Robin Hood” (fp Paris, 1870)

1871
Henry Gadsby: Symphony No 2 in A (fp Crystal Palace, 11 Feb 1871)

1872
Frederick Cowen: Symphony No 2 in F minor (fp Crystal Palace, 5 April 1873) (score lost?)
William Henry Holmes: Symphony No 1 in A (Crystal Palace, 24 Feb 1872)
Thomas Wingham: Symphony No 2 in B flat, op 6 (fp Crystal Palace 23rd March 1872)

1873
Julius Benedict: Symphony in G minor, op 101 (Crystal Palace, 22 Nov)
Eaton Faning: Symphony in C minor
Ebenezer Prout: Symphony No 1 in C (fp Crystal Palace, 28 Feb 1874)
Thomas Wingham: Symphony No 3 in E minor, with choral finale

1874
William Sterndale Bennett: Symphony No 9 in E minor (information not certain)
Sir George Macfarren: Symphony No 9 in E minor
Florence Marshall: Symphony in B minor (Andante performed this year)
Tobias Matthay: Symphony (in manuscript)

1875
Horton Claridge Allison: Symphony

1876
Julius Benedict: Symphony in C (1874-6)
Francis William Davenport: Symphony in D minor (first prize, Alexandra Palace competition)
Oliveria Prescott: Symphony No 1 in B flat “Alkestis” (third prize, Alexandra Palace competition)
Ebenezer Prout: Symphony No 2 in G min (fp Crystal Palace, 1 Dec 1877)
Alice Mary Smith: Symphony in A minor
Charles Villiers Stanford: Symphony No 1 in B-flat major (second prize, Alexandra Palace competition)

1877
Brahms: Symphony No 1 (first UK performances, Cambridge 7 March, London, 31 March, 16 April)

1878
Tobias Matthay: Symphony (No 2)(in manuscript)

1880
Frederick Cowen: Symphony No 3 in C minor “Scandinavian”
Oliver A King: Symphony in F major “Night” op 22
Stewart Macpherson: Symphony in C

1881
Robert Brydges Addison: Symphony in G minor (RAM, December 15 1881)
Henry Leslie: Symphony No 2 in D minor “Chivalry” (fp Crystal Palace, 17 Dec 1881)

1882
Charles Villiers Stanford: Symphony No 2 in D minor “Elegiac”
Hubert Parry: Symphony No 1 in G major

1883
Hubert Parry: Symphony No 2 in F major “Cambridge” (rev. 1887, 1895)
Thomas Wingham: Symphony No 4 in D (fp Crystal Palace, 28th April 1883)

1884
Frederick Cowen: Symphony No 4 in Bb minor “Cambrian” (or “Welsh”)

1885
Ebenezer Prout: Symphony No 3 in F major op 22 (fp Birmingham Festival 26 Aug 1885)

1886
Eugene D’Albert: Symphony in F major, op 4
Ebenezer Prout: Symphony No 4 in D (fp Oxford, June 1886)

1887
Charles Villiers Stanford: Symphony No 3 in F minor, op 28 “Irish”
Frederick Cowen: Symphony No 5 in F major
Edward German: Symphony No 1 in E minor (revised 1890)
Annie Maria Grimson: Symphony
William Henry Holmes: Symphony No 3 in C “Boscastle” (fp St James Hall, 9 March 1887)
William Henry Holmes: Symphony No 5, “Cumberland”, op 57
Percy Sherwood: Symphony No 1 in C major

1888
Henry Gadsby: Symphony No 3 in D major “Festal” (fp Crystal Palace, 3 Nov 1888)
Charles Villiers Stanford: Symphony No 4 in F major, op 31 (fp Crystal Palace, 23 Feb 1889)

1889
Frederic Cliffe: Symphony No 1 in C minor (fp Crystal Palace, 20 April 1889)
Hubert Parry: Symphony No 3 “The English” – 1888-89 (revised 1895)
Hubert Parry: Symphony No 4 in E minor “Finding the Way” (rev. 1910)

1892
Frederic Cliffe: Symphony No 2 in E minor (“Summer Night”)
William George Cusins: Symphony in C major
Gustav Holst: Symphony in C minor (early work, 42 page score in British Library)
George W L Marshall-Hall: Symphony in C minor
Percy Sherwood: Symphony No 2 in B minor

1893
Edward Elgar: “The Black Knight” Symphony for Chorus and Orchestra (1892-3)
Edward German: Symphony No 2 in A minor “Norfolk” (or “The Norwich”)
Frederic Lamond: Symphony No 1 in A major, op 3

1894
Joseph Cox Bridge: Symphony in F major
Henry Walford Davies: Symphony No 1 in D major
Arthur Hinton: Symphony No 1 in B major
Philip Napier Miles: Symphony No 1 in C major
Charles Villiers Stanford: Symphony No 5 in D major, op 56 “L’Allegro ed il Penseroso”

1895
Algenon Ashton: Symphony No 1 in F minor
Edward German: Symphonic Suite in D minor (“Leeds”)
Edith Greene: Symphony (performed London)

1896
Coleridge-Taylor: Symphony in A minor, op 8 (RCM, June 1896)
Arthur Barclay Jones (aka Arthur Barclay): Symphony No 1 in C minor

1897
Frederick Cowen: Symphony No 6 in E major “The Idyllic” (May 1897, Hans Richter)
Hubert Parry: Symphonic Variations

1898
John Blackwood McEwan: Symphony in A minor -1895-98
Cyril Scott: Symphony No 1 in C major (lost)

1899
William Wallace: Symphony in C# minor “Creation” (New Brighton Concerts, Bantock 1899)
Algenon Ashton: Symphony No 2 in G minor ((fp Birmingham Town Hall, 2 Sept 1910, cond. Rutland Boughton)
William Henry Bell: Symphony No 1 in C minor “Walt Whitman”
Thomas Arthur Burton: Symphony No 1 in E major
Benjamin James Dale: Symphony No 1 in F major
Francis E Gladstone: Symphony in G

Undated
Henry Robert Gadsby: Symphony in A (No 1?, before 1871?)
Guillaume Ignace Gibsone: two symphonies in MS
John James Haite (1809-74?) – symphonies?
Walter Battison Haynes mvts from a symphony, and songs were performed in 1882 at Leipzig Conservatorium.
Alfred Holmes: Symphony 2, The Youth of Shakespeare (Paris)
Alfred Holmes: Symphony 5, “Charles XII.”;
Alfred Holmes: Symphony 6, “Romeo and Juliet”
(concert overtures “The Cid” and “The Muses” sometimes referred to as his Symphonies No 6 and 7)