The Assembly looked into my entering into the first part of the engagement, as an essential service to the Province, since it secured the credit of the paper money then spread over all the country.  They gave me their thanks in form when I return’d.  But the proprietaries were enraged at Governor Denny for having pass’d the act, and turn’d him out with threats of suing him for breach of instructions which he had given bond to observe.  He, however, having done it at the instance of the General, and for His Majesty’s service, and having some powerful interest at court, despis’d the threats and they were never put in execution. . . . [Unfinished].

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.