| 1706--Born on January 17 in Boston, Massachusetts 1718--Apprenticed to his brother, James, at the printing shop 1723--Runs away to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1724--Sails to London to study the latest developments in printing at the bequest of Pennsylvania Governor 1726--Returns to Philadelphia 1727--Founds the Junto, later the American Philosophical Society 1728--Begins his first print shop in Philadelphia 1729--Established the Pennsylvania Gazette 1730--Weds Deborah Read Rogers 1732--Publishes the first edition of his Poor Richard's Almanack 1737--Designated postmaster general of Philadelphia 1742--Proposes the idea for the Academy of Pennsylvania, now the University of Pennsylvania 1748--Retires from the printing profession 1752--Performs electrical studies, including the legendary kite experiment; creates the first American fire insurance company 1756--Elected to the Royal Society (Britain) 1757--Journeys to London, England as a delegate representing the Pennsylvania Legislature 1762--Back home in Pennsylvania 1764--Returns to London as colonial representative 1772--Inducted into the French Academy of Science 1775--Recalled to the colonies and named to Second Continental Congress; presents the Articles of Confederation of United Colonies. 1776--Plays instrumental role in drafting and signing the Declaration of Independence; Undertakes secret diplomatic mission to France; member of the Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention 1778--Signs the Treaty of Alliance with France 1779--Chosen Minister to France 1782--Negotiates preliminary peace treaty with Great Britain along with John Adams and John Jay 1783--Signs Treaty of Paris, ending the American Revolutionary War 1785--Arrives in the United States of America; elected President of Pennsylvania and member of Constitutional Convention 1787--Signs the Constitution of the United States of America; nominated and elected as president of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery 1790--Passes away at the ripe old age of eighty-four
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