1729. Buys Keimer's _The Universal Instructor in all Arts and Sciences: and Pennsylvania Gazette_ (begun December 24, 1728). Changes name to _Pennsylvania Gazette_, first issue, XL, September 25-October 2, 1729. (Published by Franklin until 1748, by Franklin and David Hall from 1748 to 1766, after which Hall, until his death, and others publish it until 1815.) Contributes to _American Weekly Mercury_ six papers of _The Busy-Body_, February 4, 1729-March 27, 1729. Writes and prints _A Modest Enquiry into the Nature and Necessity of a Paper Currency_. 1730. Appointed Public Printer by Pennsylvania Assembly (incumbent until 1764). Partnership with Meredith dissolved. Marries Deborah Read (Mrs. Rogers). Prints in _Pennsylvania Gazette_ his _Dialogues between Philocles and Horatio_. 1731. First public venture: founds the Philadelphia Library Company, first subscription library in America. Begins partnership with Thomas Whitemarsh, Charleston, S. C. (1732, publishes _South Carolina Gazette_.) Begins Masonic affiliations: enters St. John's Lodge in February. William Franklin born. 1732. Begins _Poor Richard's Almanack_ (for 1733). His son Francis Folger Franklin born (dies of smallpox in 1736). Elected junior grand warden of St. John's Lodge. 1733. Begins to study languages, French, Italian, Spanish, and continues Latin. 1734. Elected grand master of Masons of Pennsylvania for 1734-35. Reprints Anderson's _Constitutions_, first Masonic book printed in America. 1735. Writes and prints three pamphlets in defense of Rev. Mr. Hemphill. Prints, in the _Pennsylvania Gazette_, _Protection of Towns from Fire_. Secretary of St. John's Lodge until 1738. Writes introduction for and prints Logan's _Cato's Moral Distiches_, first classic translated and printed in the colonies. 1736. Establishes the Union Fire Company, the first in Philadelphia. Chosen clerk of the Pennsylvania General Assembly. 1737. Appointed postmaster of Philadelphia (incumbent until 1753); also justice of the peace. 1739. Beginning of friendship with the Reverend George Whitefield. 1740. Announces (November 13) _The General Magazine and Historical Chronicle_. 1741. Six issues (January-June) of this magazine (the first planned and the second issued in the colonies). With J. Parker establishes a printing house in New York. 1742. Invents Franklin open stove. 1743. _A Proposal for Promoting Useful Knowledge among the British Plantations in America_ (circular letter sent to his friends). 1744. Establishes the American Philosophical Society and becomes its first secretary. Daughter Sarah born. _An Account of the New Invented Pennsylvanian Fire-places._ Writes preface to and prints Logan's translation of Cicero's _Cato Major_. Reprints Richardson's _Pamela_. Father dies.