Born
1706
Died
1790
Nationality
American
Events involving Benjamin Franklin (17)
1731
ID: 496
February 1731
Benjamin Franklin initiated into St. John's Lodge Philadelphia at age 24
ID: 496
1734
ID: 500
Franklin elected Grand Master of Pennsylvania Masons at 28 - youngest in Masonic history
ID: 500
1743
ID: 519
Benjamin Franklin begins electrical experiments developing mathematical conservation principle for charges
ID: 519
1749
ID: 532
Franklin appointed Provincial Grand Master by Thomas Oxnard with authority over all Pennsylvania lodges
ID: 532
1752
ID: 544
Benjamin Franklin's kite experiment demonstrates electrical nature of lightning
ID: 544
1760
ID: 557
Franklin's London Masonic activities - visits lodges as colonial agent, made honorary member in Edinburgh
ID: 557
1767
ID: 571
Franklin's first Paris visit as colonial agent - cultivates 'Philosopher from the Woods' image
ID: 571
1776
ID: 594
Nine confirmed Freemasons among 55 Constitutional Convention delegates - Masonic principles influence founding documents
ID: 594
1778
ID: 598
Franklin's fur cap becomes Paris fashion sensation - 'coiffure à la Franklin' - cultivates frontier image
ID: 598
1778
ID: 599
Franklin joins Lodge of Nine Sisters Paris - most prestigious Enlightenment lodge with Voltaire, Condorcet, Danton
ID: 599
1778
ID: 600
Franklin meets Voltaire at Academy of Sciences - theatrical embrace as 'Solon and Sophocles'
ID: 600
1779
ID: 603
Franklin becomes Venerable Master of Nine Sisters - first American to lead major European lodge
ID: 603
1779
ID: 604
Turgot's epigram on Franklin: 'He snatched lightning from heaven and scepter from tyrants'
ID: 604
1780
ID: 608
Nine Sisters Lodge coordinates American support - Lafayette uses Masonic connections for French military aid
ID: 608
1784
ID: 617
Franklin's 'Savages' speech - argues Native Americans more civilized than Europeans
ID: 617
1787
ID: 624
September 17, 1787
U.S. Constitution signed - 9 Freemasons among 55 delegates, Masonic principles influence document
ID: 624
1790
ID: 638
April 17, 1790
Franklin dies - largest funeral in American history, 20,000 mourners, Masonic procession leads
ID: 638