Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin was born

Jan 17, 1706

Benjamin Franklin was born on January 17th, 1706 in Boston.

Apprentice

1718

Becomes an apprentice at his brother's print shop.

New England Courant

1722

Begins to write for his brother's newspaper. New England Courant.

Relocates

1723

Arrives to Philadelphia

Organization

1727

Organizes the Junto

Business owner

1728

Sets up his own printing business.

Pennsylvania Gazette

1729

Publishes the Pennsylvania Gazette.

Marriage

1730

Marries Deborah Read. Acknowledges existence of illegitimate son, William Franklin.

New Company

1731

Sets up the Library Company.

Publishes Almanack

1733

Begins to publish Poor Richard's Almanack.

Becomes Postmaster

1737

Becomes postmaster of Philadelphia.

Invents the Franklin Stove

1747

Invents the Franklin Stove, publishes The General Magazine.

Kite Experiment

1752

Performs famous kite experiment.

Receives degrees

1753

Receives honorary degrees from Harvard and Yale.

Publishes Cartoon

1754

Publishes Join or Die Cartoon

Travels to England

1757

Travels to England to protest political influence of the Penn family.

Returns to Philadelphia

1775

Returns to Philadelphia. Appointed first United States Postmaster General.

Drafts the Declaration of Independence

1776

Helps draft the Declaration of Independence. Travels to France as ambassador for the United States.

Finishes autobiography

1788

Finishes his autobiography

Death

1790

Dies on April 17, 1790 from a pleuritic attack in Philadelphia.