登陆注册
5163300000069

第69章

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.

1738 Begins to study French, Italian, Spanish, and Latin.

1736 Chosen clerk of the General Assembly; forms the Union Fire Company of Philadelphia.

1737 Elected to the Assembly; appointed Deputy Postmaster-General; plans a city police.

1742 Invents the open, or "Franklin," stove.

1743 Proposes a plan for an Academy, which is adopted 1749 and develops into the University of Pennsylvania.

1744 Establishes the American Philosophical Society.

1746 Publishes a pamphlet, "Plain Truth," on the necessity for disciplined defense, and forms a military company; begins electrical experiments.

1748 Sells out his printing business; is appointed on the Commission of the Peace, chosen to the Common Council, and to the Assembly.

1749 Appointed a Commissioner to trade with the Indians.1751 Aids in founding a hospital.

1752 Experiments with a kite and discovers that lightning is an electrical discharge.

1753 Awarded the Copley medal for this discovery, and elected a member of the Royal Society; receives the degree of M.A.from Yale and Harvard.Appointed joint Postmaster-General.

1754 Appointed one of the Commissioners from Pennsylvania to the Colonial Congress at Albany; proposes a plan for the union of the colonies.

1755 Pledges his personal property in order that supplies may be raised for Braddock's army; obtains a grant from the Assembly in aid of the Crown Point expedition; carries through a bill establishing a voluntary militia; is appointed Colonel, and takes the field.

1757 Introduces a bill in the Assembly for paving the streets of Philadelphia; publishes his famous "Way to Wealth"; goes to England to plead the cause of the Assembly against the Proprietaries; remains as agent for Pennsylvania; enjoys the friendship of the scientific and literary men of the kingdom.

[HERE THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY BREAKS OFF]

1760 Secures from the Privy Council, by a compromise, a decisionobliging the Proprietary estates to contribute to the public revenue.

1762 Receives the degree of LL.D.from Oxford and Edinburgh; returns to America.

1763 Makes a five months' tour of the northern colonies for the Purpose of inspecting the post-offices.

1764 Defeated by the Penn faction for reelection to the Assembly; sent to England as agent for Pennsylvania.

1765 Endeavors to prevent the passage of the Stamp Act.

1766 Examined before the House of Commons relative to the passage of the Stamp Act; appointed agent of Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Georgia; visits Gottingen University.

1767 Travels in France and is presented at court.1769 Procures a telescope for Harvard College.

1772 Elected Associe Etranger of the French Academy.

1774 Dismissed from the office of Postmaster-General; influences Thomas Paine to emigrate to America.

1775 Returns to America; chosen a delegate to the Second Continental Congress; placed on the committee of secret correspondence; appointed one of the commissioners to secure the cooperation of Canada.

1776 Placed on the committee to draft a Declaration of Independence; chosen president of the Constitutional Committee of Pennsylvania; sent to France as agent of the colonies.

1778 Concludes treaties of defensive alliance, and of amity and commerce; is received at court.

1779 Appointed Minister Plenipotentiary to France.1780 Appoints Paul Jones commander of the "Alliance." 1782 Signs the preliminary articles of peace.

1783 Signs the definite treaty of peace.

1785 Returns to America; is chosen President of Pennsylvania; reelected 1786.

1787 Reelected President; sent as delegate to the convention for framing a Federal Constitution.

1788 Retires from public life.

1790 April 17, dies.His grave is in the churchyard at Fifth and Archstreets, Philadelphia.Editor.

同类推荐
  • 诸佛心陀罗尼经

    诸佛心陀罗尼经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 为霖道霈禅师还山录

    为霖道霈禅师还山录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 左史谏草

    左史谏草

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 崇相集选录

    崇相集选录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 胎金两界血脉

    胎金两界血脉

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 帝国君少又黑化了

    帝国君少又黑化了

    他说:“嫁给我,我会疼你宠你,做一个合格的丈夫,为你遮风挡雨。”他是权倾天下的帝国唯一继承人,清贵无双,魅世倾城,传说中禁欲系男神。她是现实版落难的灰姑娘,在婚礼上被新郎抛弃,被家族逼迫无路时,是他拯救了她。第二次相救,她说:“君先生,我现在想以身相许,你还要我吗?”婚后,她虐渣,他心疼道:“打疼手了吗?”后来,她被他宠到极致,都说惹谁也不能惹君夫人,因为她是君先生心尖尖上的人。君先生魅惑无比,一举一动撩人心魄,常让她招架不住。君先生常说,“你想要什么,我能给的都给你。”这是一个宠到极致,男女主强强联手虐渣的故事。
  • 绝宠废柴狂妃

    绝宠废柴狂妃

    她是高高在上的血族,却为了他化身成人,海誓山盟,非君不嫁。新婚之夜,身份曝光,被逼跳崖。她,是碧月大陆君家有名的痴傻丑女,却被陷害致死。当她成为她之后,会有什么不一样?在卑微庶女背后,隐藏着怎样的惊世大身份?在丑陋样貌的背后,又隐藏着怎样的惊世美颜?她步步为营,从声名狼藉到名倾天下!她坚持不懈,从丑女废柴到颜倾天下!在某位邪王看到她的第一眼,便指着她说:“我要她!”从此,他不再放手,他的海誓山盟她不敢接受,直到邪王将自己破碎的心摆在她的面前……君若素痛彻心扉,原来在自己的生命里,他早就已经融入了自己的血液之中,无处不在,无孔不入。
  • 神奇之我为大师

    神奇之我为大师

    弑神,屠魔,神奇宝贝威临异世,十万大军?暴鲤龙,让他们知道什么叫洪水滔天,雷霆主神,神罚灭世?呸,皮卡丘让他看看谁是电中真神!且看神奇宝贝技能如何横扫异界,扬威天下!
  • 名门妻约,总裁老公太高冷

    名门妻约,总裁老公太高冷

    秦虞以为自己只是做了一场梦,四个月后,当医生斩钉截铁的告诉她秦小姐你怀孕了的时候,秦虞懵了......再见到宋漠,是在电视上,他成了整个A市无人不知无人不晓的宋家大少,他的绯闻多过当时的娱乐圈。她隔着电视机看着左拥右抱的他,一口唾沫啐在他脸上,这个臭不要脸的男人,吃干抹净后擦屁股走人的负心汉!当她好不容易带着儿子迎来人生中的第二春的时候,他冷漠如同天神出现在她面前,一张支票甩在她的面前,“秦虞,一个亿,带着那个小东西嫁给我,我许你做宋太太!”【文案:我走过很多路,看过很过风景,喜欢过很多人,到最后转身才发现,只有你才是那个对的人。】
  • 影响你一生的100个财富故事

    影响你一生的100个财富故事

    本书精选数十个关于财富的故事,它们蕴藏着许多哲理和智慧。通过阅读这些故事,读者可以轻松领悟财富的真谛,学习获取财富的方法,把握好人生的财富。
  • 寄僧寓题

    寄僧寓题

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 18岁后要历练,你必须懂点说话技巧

    18岁后要历练,你必须懂点说话技巧

    18岁后,没有坚实的人脉,没有过硬的学识,那你的未来、你的成功将无从谈起。而这一切,很大程度上都取决于是否掌握了说话技巧! 《18岁后要历练,你必须懂点说话技巧》向大家介绍一套完整的快速掌握说话技巧的方案,通过学习,你既可以看到卓越口才的实例,又可以掌握卓越口才的精髓,同时你也将学习到锻炼卓越口才的实用方法。
  • 衡藩重刻胥台先生集

    衡藩重刻胥台先生集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 机舞苍穹

    机舞苍穹

    吕锋遥指苍穹:“我所要寻找的,只是属于我的尊严!”
  • 猫咪生存手册

    猫咪生存手册

    白天是人,晚上是猫。平行空间,同一个背景下不同的转折点遭遇不同的人生。作为末世的移动储备粮,米乐表示,鸭梨巨大。