Franklin (Benjamin) is born in Boston.

The son of Josiah and Abiah (Folger) Franklin, Benjamin Franklin is born near today’s 17 Milk Street, grows up at 145 Hanover Street [on Unity Street], attends Boston Latin School for two years, is apprenticed to his brother, printer James Franklin, in 1718, and runs away to Philadelphia in 1723. He becomes a successful printer and publisher, begins a common law marriage with Deborah Read in 1730, and goes on to become America’s foremost Renaissance man, an inventor, scientist, statesman, and patriot. He dies in Philadelphia on April 17, 1790,* leaving bequests to that city and to Boston.