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Benjamin Franklin was born
Benjamin Franklin was born on January 17th, 1706 in Boston. -
Apprentice
Becomes an apprentice at his brother's print shop. -
New England Courant
Begins to write for his brother's newspaper. New England Courant. -
Relocates
Arrives to Philadelphia -
Organization
Organizes the Junto -
Business owner
Sets up his own printing business. -
Pennsylvania Gazette
Publishes the Pennsylvania Gazette. -
Marriage
Marries Deborah Read. Acknowledges existence of illegitimate son, William Franklin. -
New Company
Sets up the Library Company. -
Publishes Almanack
Begins to publish Poor Richard's Almanack. -
Becomes Postmaster
Becomes postmaster of Philadelphia. -
Invents the Franklin Stove
Invents the Franklin Stove, publishes The General Magazine. -
Kite Experiment
Performs famous kite experiment. -
Receives degrees
Receives honorary degrees from Harvard and Yale. -
Publishes Cartoon
Publishes Join or Die Cartoon -
Travels to England
Travels to England to protest political influence of the Penn family. -
Returns to Philadelphia
Returns to Philadelphia. Appointed first United States Postmaster General. -
Drafts the Declaration of Independence
Helps draft the Declaration of Independence. Travels to France as ambassador for the United States. -
Finishes autobiography
Finishes his autobiography -
Death
Dies on April 17, 1790 from a pleuritic attack in Philadelphia.