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Benjamin Franklin was born on January 17, 1706, Boston, Massachusetts, United States.
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Ben's final year of schooling.
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Became an apprenticed to his brother James, a printer.
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James founded the first independent newspaper in the colonies, The New-England Courant,
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Franklin ran away to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, gains employment as a printer, and finds a home with John Read, father of his future wife, Deborah.
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Franklin left for London to purchase supplies from stationers, booksellers and printers to set up his own print shop.
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Publishes his first pamphlet: "A Dissertation upon Liberty and Necessity, Pleasure and Pain"
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Returns to Philadelphia and works as a bookkeeper and shopkeeper for Thomas Denham, a merchant who had loaned him the money to return home.
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Forms the Junto, a philosophical/political discussion group.
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Sets up own printing shop
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Publishes the first edition of the Pennsylvania Gazette.
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Marries Deborah Read. Son William Franklin is born. Begins printing money for the colony of Pennsylvania
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Son Francis Folger Franklin is born. Ben prints first edition of Poor Richard's Almanack
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Francis,youngest son, dies of smallpox.
Ben establishes the Union Fire Company.
Prints counterfeit-proof money for the colony of New Jersey. -
Becomes postmaster of Philadelphia.
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Invents the Franklin stove.
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Daughter Sally is born. Ben establishes framework for the formation of the American Philosophical Society.
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Becomes a soldier in militia regiment he organizes.
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Convinces citizens that a state school is needed. This school eventually becomes the University of Pennsylvania.
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First suggests the use of lightning rods to keep houses safe.
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Helps Dr. Thomas Bond establish the Pennsylvania Hospital.
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Performs famous kite experiment, proving lightning is electricity.
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Ben is appointed deputy postmaster general for America and begins overhaul of the postal system.
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France and England begin fighting for control of North America. Appointed to the Albany Congress, Ben forms his Albany Plan of Union. Creates "Join, or Die" cartoon.
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French and Indian War declared.
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Pennsylvania Assembly sends Ben to England to discuss colonial disputes with Parliament.
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Stamp Act is passed by Parliament.
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Testifies in favor of the repeal of the Stamp Act before the House of Commons. Testimony is published and applauded in America.
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Parliament passes the Townshend Acts, laying taxes on lead, paint, tea, and other items
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The British send troops to Boston.
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The Boston Massacre occurs. Ben tries to bring compromise between England and the colonies
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Parliament passes the Tea Act, leading to the Boston Tea Party. Ben tries one last time for reconciliation between the two countries.
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The Battles of Lexington and Concord occur in April, marking the beginning of the Revolutionary War. Ben returns to Philadelphia and takes his seat in the First Continental Congress.
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Ben and Thomas Jefferson are appointed by Congress to draft the Declaration of Independence. After Washington's defeat on Long Island, Ben is appointed commissioner to France.
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Ben hears grim news of British occupation of Philadelphia. Also hears joyous news of American victory at Saratoga, New York.
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France formally recognizes the United States and signs Treaty of Alliance.
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General Charles Cornwallis surrenders at Yorktown, putting an end to the Revolutionary War. Congress appoints Ben along with John Jay, John Adams, and Henry Laurens, as commissioner to negotiate peace.
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Ben and the American commission complete negotiations and sign peace treaty with England.
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Invents bifocals.
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Ben returns home from France. Is elected president of the executive council of Pennsylvania.
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Serves as the oldest delegate to the Constitutional Convention. Becomes president of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition Slavery.
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Retires from public office.
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Dies on April 17; buried next to Deborah in Christ Church Cemetery, Philadelphia.
