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Future President James Buchanan, then a Senator, appointed Franklin to the United States Military Academy in June 1839
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graduated first in his class in 1843
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joining the Corps of Topographical Engineers and being sent to the Rocky Mountains for two years to survey the region with the Stephen W. Kearny Expedition
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assigned to duty in the administrative offices in Washington, D.C.
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Combat operations lasted a year and a half, from spring 1846 to fall 1847
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He served under Philip Kearny during the Mexican-American War and received a brevet promotion to first lieutenant in the Battle of Buena Vista.(23 February 1847)
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Upon his return from Mexico, Franklin served as a professor at West Point for three years
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Upon his return from Mexico, Franklin served as a professor at West Point for three years
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