1852

Born March 16 to Margaret Barclay of Calais, Maine, at the Portland Maine Alms House.  Adopted March 17 by Gideon L. and Elizabeth H. Stanwood of Cape Elizabeth, Maine. “Little Frankie”, said to have spent his early years aboard his parent’s vessel.

1860/61

Entered Portland School system.

1863

Capt. Gideon retired and settled in Gorham, Maine. Franklin enrolled in Gorham Academy becoming fascinated with Shakespeare, Dickens and Poe.

c. 1870

Began career as a mariner.

1873

Sketching on a voyage to Peru.

1876

Painting of a house in Deering, Maine completed at Buenos Ayres, Argentina.  Left sea to become marine and landscape painter living in Gorham with a studio at 167 Fore Street, Portland.  Wrote poetry for local press.  Stanwood’s health poor with beginnings of consumption.  In Maine Business Directory, “Maine Artist at 191 Middle Street.”  Studio at 191 Middle Street, Portland. Living at 188 Spring Street, Portland.  Founding of the Portland Society (now Portland Museum of Art and Maine College of Art) after sketching tour of White Mountains with Harrison B. Brown and businessman-artist James P. Baxter.  Stanwood was an early member.

1882

Stanwood exhibited at Horace G. Hewes Art Studio, Portland.

1885

Death of Capt. Gideon, January 17.  Artist working at his mother’s house, State Street, Gorham.

1888

Death of artist, June 20 in Gorham. Buried in Western Cemetery, Portland.  Gravestone marked “Marine Artist”.  Same year had two poems published in The Poets of Maine, complied by George Bancroft Griffith (Portland: Elwell, Picard & Co.).