Chronology of Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin was born at Boston on January 17, 1706, removed to Philadelphia in 1723, became editor of the Pennsylvania Gazette in 1729, was appointed Public Printer in 1730, founded the Philadelphia Library in 1731, organized the first Philadelphia Fire Company in 1736, was appointed Postmaster of Philadelphia in 1737, became a member of the Provincial Assembly in 1738, established the first American Magazine in 1741, invented the Franklin Open Stove in 1742, founded the American Philosophical Society in 1743, projected the University of Pennsylvania in 1749, founded the Pennsylvania Hospital in 1751, was the first to utilize electricity in 1752, became Deputy Postmaster General for the Colonies in 1753, served as a delegate to Congress at Albany in 1754, became Colonel of Provincial Militia in 1756, served from 1757 to 1770 as agent to Great Britain for Pennsylvania, Georgia, New Jersey and Massachusetts, became Speaker of the Pennsylvania Assembly in 1764, became president of the American Philosophical Society in 1769, served in 1775 as a delegate to the Continental Congress, chairman of the Committee of "Safety," proposer of "Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union," and Postmaster General of the Colonies, signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776, became president of the Constitutional Convention of Pennsylvania and commissioner to the Court of France in 1776, negotiated the Treaties of Amity and Commerce and of Alliance with France and became Minister Plenipotentiary to France in 1778, signed the Treaty of Amity and Commerce with Sweden and the Treaty of Peace with Great Britain in 1783, signed the Treaty of Amity and Commerce with Prussia and became President of the Provincial Council in 1785, became a member of the Constitutional Convention of the United States in 1787, and died at Philadelphia on April 17, 1790.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania · United States