University of Virginia Library

CHIEF EVENTS IN FRANKLIN'S LIFE

[Ending, as it does, with the year 1757, the autobiography leaves important facts un-recorded. It has seemed advisable, therefore, to detail the chief events in Franklin's life, from the beginning, in the following list:

• 1706 He is born, in Boston, and baptized in the Old South
  Church.
• 1714 At the age of eight, enters the Grammar School.
• 1716 Becomes his father's assistant in the tallow-chandlery
  business.
• 1718 Apprenticed to his brother James, printer.
• 1721 Writes ballads and peddles them, in printed form, in the
  streets; contributes, anonymously, to the "New England
  Courant," and temporarily edits that paper; becomes a
  free-thinker, and a vegetarian.
• 1723 Breaks his indenture and removes to Philadelphia; obtaining
  employment in Keimer's printing-office; abandons vegetarianism.
• 1724 Is persuaded by Governor Keith to establish himself independently,
  and goes to London to buy type; works at his
  trade there, and publishes "Dissertation on Liberty and
  Necessity, Pleasure and Pain."
• 1726 Returns to Philadelphia; after serving as clerk in a dry-
  goods store, becomes manager of Keimer's printing-house.
• 1727 Founds the Junto, or "Leathern Apron" Club.
• 1728 With Hugh Meredith, opens a printing-office.
• 1729 Becomes proprietor and editor of the "Pennsylvania Gazette";
  prints, anonymously, "Nature and Necessity of a
  Paper Currency"; opens a stationer's shop.
• 1730 Marries Rebecca Read.
• 1731 Founds the Philadelphia Library.

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• 1732 Publishes the first number of "Poor Richard's Almanac"
  under the pseudonym of "Richard Saunders." The
  Almanac, which continued for twenty-five years to contain
  his witty, worldly-wise sayings, played a very large
  part in bringing together and molding the American
  character which was at that time made up of so many
  diverse and scattered types.
• 1738 Begins to study French, Italian, Spanish, and Latin.
• 1786 Chosen clerk of the General Assembly; forms the Union
  Fire Company of Philadelphia.
• 1737 Elected to the Assembly; appointed Deputy Postmaster-
  General; plans a city police.
• 1742 Invents the open, or "Franklin," stove.
• 1743 Proposes a plan for an Academy, which is adopted 1749
  and develops into the University of Pennsylvania.
• 1744 Establishes the American Philosophical Society.
• 1746 Publishes a pamphlet, "Plain Truth," on the necessity for
  disciplined defense, and forms a military company; begins
  electrical experiments.
• 1748 Sells out his printing business; is appointed on the Commission
  of the Peace, chosen to the Common Council, and
  to the Assembly.
• 1749 Appointed a Commissioner to trade with the Indians.
• 1751 Aids in founding a hospital.
• 1752 Experiments with a kite and discovers that lightning is an
  electrical discharge.
• 1753 Awarded the Copley medal for this discovery, and elected
  a member of the Royal Society; receives the degree of
  M.A. from Yale and Harvard. Appointed joint Postmaster-
  General.
• 1754 Appointed one of the Commissioners from Pennsylvania to
  the Colonial Congress at Albany; proposes a plan for the
  union of the colonies.
• 1755 Pledges his personal property in order that supplies may
  be raised for Braddock's army; obtains a grant from the
  Assembly in aid of the Crown Point expedition; carries
  through a bill establishing a voluntary militia; is appointed
  Colonel, and takes the field.

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• 1757 Introduces a bill in the Assembly for paving the streets of
  Philadelphia; publishes his famous "Way to Wealth";
  goes to England to plead the cause of the Assembly
  against the Proprietaries; remains as agent for Pennsylvania;
  enjoys the friendship of the scientific and literary
  men of the kingdom.
  [HERE THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY BREAKS OFF]
• 1760 Secures from the Privy Council, by a compromise, a decision
  obliging the Proprietary estates to contribute to the
  public revenue.
• 1762 Receives the degree of LL.D. from Oxford and Edinburgh;
  returns to America.
• 1763 Makes a five months' tour of the northern colonies for the
  Purpose of inspecting the post-offices.
• 1764 Defeated by the Penn faction for reelection to the Assembly;
  sent to England as agent for Pennsylvania.
• 1765 Endeavors to prevent the passage of the Stamp Act.
• 1766 Examined before the House of Commons relative to the passage
  of the Stamp Act; appointed agent of Massachusetts,
  New Jersey, and Georgia; visits Gottingen University.
• 1767 Travels in France and is presented at court.
• 1769 Procures a telescope for Harvard College.
• 1772 Elected Associe Etranger of the French Academy.
• 1774 Dismissed from the office of Postmaster-General; influences
  Thomas Paine to emigrate to America.
• 1775 Returns to America; chosen a delegate to the Second Continental
  Congress; placed on the committee of secret
  correspondence; appointed one of the commissioners to
  secure the cooperation of Canada.
• 1776 Placed on the committee to draft a Declaration of Independence;
  chosen president of the Constitutional Committee
  of Pennsylvania; sent to France as agent of the
  colonies.
• 1778 Concludes treaties of defensive alliance, and of amity and
  commerce; is received at court.
• 1779 Appointed Minister Plenipotentiary to France.
• 1780 Appoints Paul Jones commander of the "Alliance."

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• 1782 Signs the preliminary articles of peace.
• 1783 Signs the definite treaty of peace.
• 1785 Returns to America; is chosen President of Pennsylvania;
  reelected 1786.
• 1787 Reelected President; sent as delegate to the convention for
  framing a Federal Constitution.
• 1788 Retires from public life.
• 1790 April 17, dies. His grave is in the churchyard at Fifth
  and Arch streets, Philadelphia. Editor.)