The French and Spanish invade Carolina and are repulsed. Union of England and Scotland under the name of Great Britain. 1708 Birth of William Pitt (the elder). 1710 Port Royal captured by an English fleet; its name changed to Annapolis (Nova Scotia). 1711 The Spectator begins publication. 1714 Queen Anne dies, and George I. accedes to the British throne. George I. dies, and George II. becomes king of Great Britain. Carolina divided into North and South Carolina. Marries Deborah Read (Rogers), Sept. 1. 1732 Begins the publication of Poor Richard's Al George Washington born, Feb. 22 (Feb. 11, 1731, O. S.). 1742 36 Invents the Franklin stove. 1744 38 Establishes the American Philosophical So- 1744 ciety. 1745 "King George's War" with France begins. Siege and capture of Louisburg by colonial troops and a few English vessels. Second Jacobite rebellion. 1748 Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle between Great Britain and France, restoring Cape Breton to the French. Formation of the Ohio Company. to to 1749 43 Founds the Academy and Charitable School of the Province of Pennsylvania, which finally became the University of Pennsyl 1751 45 vania. 1752 46 Proves lightning to be a discharge of elec-1752 | Reformed or Gregorian calendar adopted by tricity, by experimenting with a kite. Parliament for England and the colonies. 1753 47 Appointed, jointly with William Hunter, postmaster-general of the colonies. 1755 49 Procures transport wagons and supplies for 1755 The French and Indian War begins. quesne. 1757 51 Sent to London as agent for the Province of Pennsylvania in its dispute with the Penn family. Braddock's Defeat, July 9. 1758 1759 53 Receives the degree of Doctor of Laws from the University of St. Andrews at Edinburgh. 1759 1762 56 Returns to Philadelphia. 1763 57 Capture of Louisburg by the English. 1760 Surrender of Montreal and all Canada to the George II. dies, and George III. ascends the Travels through the provinces to supervise 1763 Peace of Paris, between Great Britain and and regulate the postal system. 1764 58 Again goes to London as colonial agent for Pennsylvania. The "Paxton Boys" in Pennsylvania massa- 1765 The Stamp Act passed, in March. DATE. AGE. 1766 60 Gives important testimony in regard to the 1766 Stamp Act before the House of Commons. 1770 64 1767 CONTEMPORARY EVENTS. The Stamp Act repealed, in March. Duty imposed by the British Parliament on glass, paper, painters' colors, and tea imported into the colonies. Appointed agent for Massachusetts in Eng- 1770 The Boston Massacre, March 5. land. 1771 65 Writes first part of his Autobiography. 1775 69 Returns to America, reaching Philadelphia May 5. Unanimously elected by the Assembly a delegate to the Provincial Congress, May 6. Appointed postmaster-general of the colonies. Sent on a fruitless mission to Canada. Presides over the constitutional convention of 1776 70 Act of Parliament repealing duty on paper, 1773 Boston Tea Party, Dec. 16. 1774 Passage of the Boston Port Bill. The Continental Congress meets, at Philadelphia. Battles of Concord and Lexington, April 19. Battle of Bunker Hill, June 17. Washington takes command of the American Evacuation of Boston by the British, March Adoption of the Declaration of Independence, July 4. mittee of five to frame a declaration of independence. Elected one of the commissioners to France, where he arrives in December. Battle of Trenton, Dec. 26. 1777 Burgoyne's surrender, Oct. 17. The Articles of Confederation agreed upon in 1778 72 Formally received at the French Court. Appointed minister-plenipotentiary to France. 1778 France recognizes the United States as an independent nation. 1779 Battle of Stony Point, July 16. John Paul Jones in the "Bonhomme Richard' captures the British man-of-war "Serapis after a desperate battle. 1780 The capture of Major André reveals the treachery of Benedict Arnold, and André is hanged as a spy. 1781 75 Appointed a member of the commission to 1781 negotiate a treaty of peace between England and the United States. Resumes work on his Autobiography. His resignation as minister to France is accepted by Congress, and he returns to 1782 Surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown, Oct. 19. Preliminary articles of peace between Great Britain and the United States signed at Paris. 1783 Definitive Treaty of Peace signed at Paris, Sept. 3. |