Ben Franklin

1706: January 17. Born in Boston, the youngest son of Josiah and Abiah Franklin.

1720: Moved away from home into a boarding house

Stopped attending church so he could use Sunday to study.

1722: Became a vegetarian.

1723: Takes over the publishing of the Courant after brother James is jailed due to "contempt" charges.

1724:Returns home to Boston to try and borrow money from his father to start print shop. Is denied.

1727: It is in 1727 or 1728 that Franklin has an affair with a woman that results in the birth of his illegitimate son William.

1729: Writes a pamphlet entitled "The Nature and Necessity of a Paper Currency".

Purchases The Pennsylvania Gazette from Samuel Keimer.

1731: Joins the St. Johns Freemasons Lodge

1732: Birth of his son Francis Folger.

In May, Franklin started printing America's first German-language newspaper, Philadelphische Zeitung.

1735: Brother James Franklin dies; Benjamin sends his widow 500 copies of Poor Richard for free so she can make money by selling them

1736:Named Clerk of the PA Assembly.

Son Francis (Franky) Folger dies at age 4 of smallpox.