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
        Arch streets, Philadelphia.  Editor.