1746 | - Begins extensive electrical experiments
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1747 | - Franklin writes "The Plain Truth," a pamphlet arguing for better military preparedness in PA. In the pamphlet is the first political cartoon published in America.
- Peter Collinson of London sends Franklin an electric tube. "For my own part, I never was before engaged in any study that so totally engrossed my attention and my time as this has lately done.
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1748 | - Becomes a soldier in the PA militia after turning down a commission as a Colonel citing military inexperience.
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1749 | - Franklin presents his vision for education in a pamphlet titled "Publick Academy of Philadelphia." His initiatives and vision would lead to the founding of the University of Pennsylvania.
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1751 | - Letters on electricity published in London by Peter Collinson
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1752 | - Conducts kite experiment
- Received Copley Medal of the royal Society of London for research in electricity. Deputy Postmaster General of N.A.
- Wrote a plan for a union of the colonies for security and defense.
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1752 | |
1753 | - Received honorary degrees from Harvard and Yale.
- Appointed joint Deputy Postmaster General of North America.
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1754 | - Proposes plan of colonial union at Albany Congress
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1757-62 | - In England as agent for Pennsylvania Assembly, Massachusetts, Georgia, New Jersey
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1759 | - Receives honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from the University of St. Andrews, Scotland
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1762 | - Mapped Postal routes in the colonies. Invents glass armonica
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1764-65 | |
1766 | - Examined in House of Commons in support of repeal of the Stamp Act
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1768 | - Named Colonial Agent for Georgia.
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1769 | - Named Colonial Agent for New Jersey.
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1770 | - Elected Colonial Agent for Massachusetts.
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1771 | |
1771-72 | |
1774 | - Dressed down before London's Privy Council by Solicitor General Wedderburn for leaking letters in the "Hutchinson Affair."
- Deborah Read, his wife of 44 years, dies in Philadelphia
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1775 | - Elected as a Pennsylvania delegate of Pennsylvania to Second Continental Congress; serves as chairman of Pennsylvania Committee of Safety
- Elected Postmaster General of the Colonies
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1776 | |
1777 | - Meets Madame Brillon, an amour.
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1778 | |
1779-81 | - Appointed to negotiate peace treaty with England.
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1780 | - Madame Helvetius rejects Franklin's offer of marriage.
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1783-84 | |
1785-86 | - Elected President of Pennsylvania Executive Council
- Invents the "long arm," an instrument for taking down books from a shelf
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1787 | |
1789 | |
1790 | |