July 12
Was born in Parral, a city in the south of Chile, Ricardo Eliecer Neftalí Reyes Basoalto, later known throughout the world as Pablo Neruda. He is the only son of Rosa Neftalí  Basoalto and José del Carmen Reyes.

September 14
His mother, Rosa Basoalto, dies as a result of tuberculosis.

September 26
He was baptized at the Church San José of Parral.

José del Carmen Reyes, his father, moved to the city of Temuco with his son and gets married for second time with Trinidad Candia Marverde, whom Neruda warmly called "the mamadre." Trinidad Candia is also mother of Rodolfo, brother of Neruda born in 1895, also son of José del Carmen Reyes.

August 2
Borns Laura Reyes, Neruda's sister, the daughter of José del Carmen and Aurelia Tolrá. Later this child will be adopted by Trinidad Candia Marverde.

Neruda enter to the Men’s Lyceum of Temuco, where he completed the high school.

July 18
Appears in the newspaper “The Morning” of Temuco, with the signing of Neftali Reyes, an article entitled "Enthusiasm and perseverance." This is the first publication of the poet.

Appears in the journal “Run and fly” the poem" My eyes ", signed by Neftali Reyes. In this magazine were published three of his poems.

Also, starting this year and until 1922, he wrote numerous articles published in various media: “The Morning” and Diario Austral of Temuco, Valdivia Cultural Magazine; Ratos Illustrated of Chillan and in literary journals of the students in Temuco.

He publishes 13 poems in the journal “Run and fly”. Assists in the magazine “Selva Austral” of Temuco. He participates in the Floral Games of the Maule and receives a diploma as "third reward" for the poem "Ideal Communion”.

He meets Gabriela Mistral, who arrived in Temuco as director of the Lyceum for girls. In 1954 Neruda recalled the meeting: "... she made me read the first big names of the Russian literature that had much influence on me."

October
He starts signing his work with the pseudonym of Pablo Neruda. He is president of the Athenaeum Literary of the Lyceum of Temuco and deputy secretary of the Student Association of Cautín.

November 28
He wins the first prize for poetry in the Spring Festivals of Temuco. He graduates of the Temuco Men's Lyceum, received a degree in humanities, which allows him to take the high school.