Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)

1. 1706, Jan. 17

   Born, Boston, Massachusetts

2. 1718-1723

   Apprenticed as a printer to his brother James Franklin

3. 1723

   Moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

4. 1724-1726

   Worked in London, England, as a journeyman printer

5. 1727

   Founded the Junto, a debating club, in Philadelphia

6. 1729

   Purchased the Pennsylvania Gazette

7. 1730, Sept. 1

   Began his common-law marriage with Deborah Read Rogers (c. 1708-1774)

8. 1731

   Established the Library Company of Philadelphia
   
   Son William Franklin was probably born this year

9. 1732-1758

   Published Poor Richard's Almanack

10. 1732, Oct.

    Son Francis Folger Franklin born (d. 1736)

11. 1736-1751

    Clerk, Pennsylvania Assembly

12. 1737

    Appointed postmaster of Philadelphia

13. 1740

    Invented the Franklin stove

14. 1743

    Proposed formation of the American Philosophical Society

15. 1743, Sept.

    Daughter Sarah "Sally" Franklin Bache was born (d. 1808)

16. 1748

    Retired from the printing business

17. 1751

    Helped found the Academy for Education of Youth (now the University of Pennsylvania) and the Philadelphia City Hospital
    
    Published Experiments and Observations on Electricity. Elected to Pennsylvania Assembly; served until 1764

18. 1753

    Appointed joint deputy postmaster general of North America

19. 1754

    Represented Pennsylvania at the Albany Congress

20. 1757-1762

    In London, England, as agent of the Pennsylvania Assembly

21. 1760

    William Temple Franklin, William Franklin's son (Benjamin's grandson), was probably born this year

22. 1764-1775

    In London, England, as agent for Pennsylvania and other colonies

23. 1771

    Began autobiography

24. 1774, Dec. 19

    Wife Deborah Franklin died

25. 1775

    Elected a delegate to the Second Continental Congress

26. 1776, Mar.-May

    Mission to Canada

27. 1776, June

    Served on Continental Congress committee that drafted the Declaration of Independence

28. 1776, Oct.

    Went to France as an American commissioner; arrived in December

29. 1778, Feb. 6

    Signed treaties with France

30. 1778, Sept.

    Appointed United States minister plenipotentiary in France

31. 1781, Mar.

    Asked Congress to allow him to come home

32. 1781, June

    Appointed by Congress, with John Jay, Henry Laurens, and John Adams, to the committee to negotiate peace with Great Britain

33. 1783, Sept. 3

    Signed Treaty of Paris with Great Britain ending the revolutionary war and recognizing American independence

34. 1785, July

    Left France

35. 1785, Sept.

    Arrived in Philadelphia

36. 1785, Oct.

    Elected president, Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania; served until 1788.

37. 1787, May-Sept.

    Represented Pennsylvania at the Constitutional Convention

38. 1790, Feb.

    Signed antislavery petition to Congress as president of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery

39. 1790, Apr. 17

    Died in Philadelphia and interred in the city's Christ Church Burial Ground