Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin (January 17, 1706 – April 17, 1790) was a American Founding Father, and scientist. He has also been known as "the First American". He was a very important person in the American Revolution and helped make the Thirteen Colonies one nation. As a leader of the Enlightenment, he influenced European scientists. He even was the first thing many Europeans associated with America at the time. His successful diplomacy in France was an important factor in the United States' win over Great Britain.
Benjamin Franklin | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 6th President of Pennsylvania | |
| In office October 18, 1785 – November 5, 1788 | |
| Vice President | Charles Biddle Thomas Mifflin |
| Preceded by | John Dickinson |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Mifflin |
| United States Minister to France | |
| In office September 14, 1778 – May 17, 1785 | |
| Appointed by | Continental Congress |
| Preceded by | New office |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Jefferson |
| United States Minister to Sweden | |
| In office September 28, 1782 – April 3, 1783 | |
| Appointed by | Congress of the Confederation |
| Preceded by | New office |
| Succeeded by | Jonathan Russell |
| 1st United States Postmaster General | |
| In office July 26, 1775 – November 7, 1776 | |
| Appointed by | Continental Congress |
| Preceded by | New office |
| Succeeded by | Richard Bache |
| Speaker of the Pennsylvania Assembly | |
| In office May 1764 – October 1764 | |
| Preceded by | Isaac Norris |
| Succeeded by | Isaac Norris |
| Member of the Pennsylvania Assembly | |
| In office 1762–1764 | |
| In office 1751–1757 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 17, 1706 Boston, Massachusetts Bay |
| Died | April 17, 1790 (aged 84) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Independent |
| Spouse(s) | Deborah Read |
| Children | William Franklin Francis Folger Franklin Sarah Franklin Bache |
| Profession | Scientist Writer Politician |
| Signature |  |
Childhood and family
Franklin was born in Boston.[1] After two years of school he stayed home as an apprentice in his father's candle-making shop. Two years after starting to work at his father's shop, he went to work at his brother James' printing shop. While working there, Franklin secretly wrote articles for the newspaper and labelled them as being by "Mrs. Silence Dogood".[2] He quarrelled with his brother and at age 17 ran away to Philadelphia, then to London and then back to Philadelphia.
Franklin loved books and reading. Franklin, at the age of 21, established the colonies' first circulation library for all interested citizens.[3] He became rich and famous as a printer, publisher and writer. Later, he sold his businesses and became busy with science and politics.
Political life
Benjamin Franklin was very important in Pennsylvanian and early American politics. He was a leader in the city of Philadelphia, where he did many important things. He was the President of the Academy and College of Philadelphia. Later he became a councilman, a Justice of the Peace, later a representative of the city. He also started one of the first public libraries in Philadelphia. He was for many years the postmaster of Philadelphia, and in 1753 became Postmaster General of the Thirteen Colonies. In 1757 he went to live in London as agent for Pennsylvania and later for other colonies.
He was in the Continental Congress, which led the country during the Revolutionary War, and he helped write the United States Declaration of Independence. He controlled the postal service as Postmaster General. As ambassador to France he helped persuade the French to join the war against Great Britain. He helped negotiate the peace, too. Later, he was part of the group that made the Constitution of the United States.
Publications
Franklin called himself a printer, but is also known for his writings. Among some of the more well known are Poor Richard's Almanack, and the Pennsylvanian.
Inventions
Franklin was a scientist who studied experiments in an effort to improve or correct them. One of his greatest contributions was in the theory of electricity through the Leyden jar.
Most people see Franklin as one of history's greatest inventors. For example, he invented the lightning rod and bifocals, the Franklin stove, and the glass harmonica.
Death
Franklin died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from pleurisy, April 17, 1790 aged 84.
Legacy
Benjamin Franklin owned slaves and printed ads to help slavers find runaway slaves in his newspaper.[4] Eventually, he changed his mind and became an abolitionist. But he still made a lot of money from slavery.
The city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (where he lived) marked his three hundredth birthday in 2006. Many streets and a few towns are named for him.
A picture of Franklin has been on the United States' hundred-dollar bill since 1928. He was also on the fifty-cent coin for 15 years.
Benjamin Franklin Media
La scuola della economia e della morale, an 1825 sketch of Franklin
Franklin (center) at work on a printing press in a painting published by the Detroit Publishing Company in c. 1914
William Franklin (1730–1813), Franklin's son, whose mother was unknown, was born out of wedlock on February 22, 1730
The January 1741 edition of The General Magazine and Historical Chronicle, Franklin's magazine
A portrait of Franklin c. 1746–1750,[Note 1] by Robert Feke widely believed to be the earliest known painting of Franklin
Join, or Die, a 1754 political cartoon by Franklin, urged the colonies to join the Seven Years' War in the French and Indian War; the cartoon was later resurrected, serving as an iconic symbol in support of the American Revolution.
In 1751, Franklin co-founded Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia, one of the first hospitals in the United States, depicted in this 1755 engraving by William Strickland.
Seal of the College of Philadelphia, a college founded by Franklin that is now the University of Pennsylvania
Sketch of the original Tun Tavern
The first U.S. postage stamp, issued in 1847 in honor of Franklin
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Footnotes
- ↑ Engber, Daniel (2006). What's Benjamin Franklin's Birthday?. Retrieved June 17, 2009.
- ↑ William H. Nault (1973). World Book Encyclopedia. Field Enterprises Educational Corp. p. 413. ISBN 978-0716-60073-2.
- ↑ "27 Interesting Facts about Ben Franklin". Archived from the original on 2013-06-22. Retrieved 2013-07-23.
- ↑ Nash, Gary B. (2006). "Franklin and Slavery". Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society. 150 (4): 620.
References
- Feldman, Eve B. Benjamin Franklin: Scientist and Inventor. New York: Library of Congress, 1990. Print.
Other websites
- Three Hundredth Anniversary Website Archived 2008-08-20 at the Wayback Machine
- Franklin's autobiography Archived 2004-10-14 at the Wayback Machine at Project Gutenberg
- Guide to Benjamin Franklin Archived 2010-03-16 at the Wayback Machine
- US State Department bio
- Website for PBS Franklin Television Series
- Benjamin Franklin Citizendium
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