Benjamin Franklin Biography
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Benjamin Franklin
Early Life
Benjamin Franklin was born January 17, 1706 in Boston, Massachusetts, to Josiah Franklin, a tallow chandler, and Abiah Folger, the fifteenth child and youngest son in a family of seventeen. Though he only attended school for two years, he was an avid reader at a young age, educating himself. By the time he was twelve, he worked as an apprentice printer for his older brother, James. He eventually suffered a falling-out with his brother, though, after publishing in James' paper under the pseudonym of Mrs. Silence Dogood. When discovered, he illegally left his apprenticeship without permission, and left to Philadelphia, London, then back to Philadelphia seeking a fresh start. By the time he was twenty, he had laid out his personal thirteen virtues, principals by which he professed for the rest of his life.
Philadelphia and Freemasons
Franklin found work doing various tasks under a merchant named Thomas Denham. During this time, he founded the Junto, a group for craftsmen dedicated to intellectual pursuits. This group was responsible for collecting and pooling many manuscripts and texts that would eventually become a part of the now expansive Library Company of Philadelphia. After Denham's death, however, he returned to publishing, and due to his savy and sharp commentary, soon gained a great deal of respect and renown. In 1731, he was initiated into the Freemasons, becoming a Grand Master only three years later. Also in 1934, he published the first Masonic book in the Americas, a reprint of James Anderson's The Constitutions of the Freemasons. Franklin would remain with the organization for the rest of his life.
Success in Writing, Science, and Politics
In 1733 Franklin began publishing Poor Richard's Almanac, under the thinly disguised penname Richard Saunders. The Almanac contained various witticisms and facts about the world, and proved incredibly popular among middle and lower class individuals who lacked the education for more intellectual literature. Many of the sayings from the Almanac, such as "a penny saved is twopence dear," remain popular today.
In 1743, he founded the American Philosophical Society, marking the beginning of his dedicated foray into science. In 1950, he published an essay detailing an experiment to prove that lightening is electrical. This was separate from his famous kite experiment, which he may or may not have ever actually performed. Nevertheless, his theorizing led to his invention of the lightening rod. Among his many other inventions and scientific notations, Franklin made important observations in meteorology, through the movement of storm clouds, and the principals of refrigeration.
In 1751 he was elected to the Assembly of Pennsylvania, after serving several years as a Justice of the Peace. While on the Assembly, he made sweeping reforms to the American postal service. He spent the next decade heavily involved in diplomacy with Britain and activism in American political culture.
When he lost his seat in 1764, he moved to London, where he became a radical advocate of pro-American nationalism. He helped fuel opposition to the Stamp and Townshend Acts, increasingly supporting a bid for America’s independence. He was particularly distressed by the poverty of Ireland under the subjugation of the British, and he feared the same thing would happen to America.
When he returned in 1775, the Pennsylvania Assembly unanimously chose Franklin as their delegate to the Second Continental Congress. In 1776, he was a member of the Committee of Five that drafted the Declaration of Independence. As the Revolutionary War began, he was sent as an official delegate to France where he stayed for the rest of the conflict. He successfully negotiated the Treaty of Paris in 1773, which was key in securing France’s support. When he finally returned home in 1785, he received a place only second to that of George Washington as the champion of American independence.
In 1777, after the war had ended, he served as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. He played an honorific role but seldom engaged in debate. He is the only Founding Father who is a signatory of all four of the major documents of the founding of the United States: the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Paris, the Treaty of Alliance with France, and the United States Constitution.
In his later years, as Congress was forced to deal with the issue of slavery, Franklin wrote several essays that attempted to convince his readers of the importance of the abolition of slavery and of the integration of Africans into American society.
Death
Franklin died on April 17, 1790, in Pennsylvania. His funeral was attended by about twenty thousand people. Since his death, his likeness has permeated American culture, including monuments and monies, of which he is currently depicted on the one hundred dollar bill. Many of his various quotes and adages from his writings have also survived to this day. Franklin is recognized as one of the pioneers of American culture, through his contributions to science, literature, and politics. Specifically, he helped shape the mold of nationalistic spirit that helped many Americans recognize themselves as an independent society.
The Essentials
Born: January 17, 1706
Died: April 17, 1790
Famous For: Securing France's allegiance during Revolutionary War, prolific writer, inventor, and womanizer.
Key Accomplishments: Pennsylvania Assemblyman, invented the lightening rod, signed all four major documents of American independence.
Significant Quote: "Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety"
Fun Quote: "In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes."
Other Sources
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