Benjamin Franklin becomes publisher of the New England Courant.

He assumes the post after his older brother James is imprisoned by the General Court after refusing to allow authorities to examine the contents of the newspaper prior to its publication. A few months later, 17-year-old Benjamin breaks the indenture agreement with his brother, runs away, sails to New York, then walks to Philadelphia to begin a new life. James Franklin runs an advertisement for a “likely lad for an apprentice” on September 30, 1723.