Chief Events In Franklin's Life
[Ending, as it does, with the year 1757, the autobiography leaves important facts un-
recorded. It has seemed advisable, therefore, to detail the chief events in Franklin's life,
from the beginning, in the following list:
1706. He is born, in Boston, and baptized in the Old South Church.
1714. At the age of eight, enters the Grammar School.
1716. Becomes his father's assistant in the tallow-chandlery business.
1718. Apprenticed to his brother James, printer.
1721. Writes ballads and peddles them, in printed form, in the streets; contributes,
anonymously, to the "New England Courant," and temporarily edits that paper; becomes
a free-thinker, and a vegetarian.
1723. Breaks his indenture and removes to Philadelphia; obtaining employment in
Keimer's printing-office; abandons vegetarianism.
1724. Is persuaded by Governor Keith to establish himself independently, and goes to
London to buy type; works at his trade there, and publishes "Dissertation on Liberty and
Necessity, Pleasure and Pain."
1726. Returns to Philadelphia; after serving as clerk in a dry goods store, becomes
manager of Keimer's printing-house.
1727. Founds the Junto, or "Leathern Apron" Club.
1728. With Hugh Meredith, opens a printing-office.
1729. Becomes proprietor and editor of the "Pennsylvania Gazette"; prints,
anonymously, "Nature and Necessity of a Paper Currency"; opens a stationer's shop.
1730. Marries Rebecca Read.
1731. Founds the Philadelphia Library.
1732. Publishes the first number of "Poor Richard's Almanac" under the pseudonym of
"Richard Saunders." The Almanac, which continued for twenty-five years to contain his
witty, worldly-wise sayings, played a very large part in bringing together and molding the
American character which was at that time made up of so many diverse and scattered
types.
