Benjamin Franklin

Early Life

Benjamin Franklin was born on Milk Street, in Boston, Massachusetts, on January 17, 1706. His father, Josiah, was a tallow chandler, a soap-maker and a candle-maker. Josiah was born at Ecton, Northamptonshire, England on December 23, 1657. His mother, Abiah, was born in Nantucket, Massachusetts, on August 15, 1667.

Education and Early Career

Franklin's formal education was limited and ended when he was ten years old due to financial constraints. However, he was an avid reader and pursued learning independently. At the age of 12, he became an apprentice to his brother James, a printer, where he learned the printing trade and began writing articles under the pseudonym "Silence Dogood."

Inventions and Scientific Discoveries

Franklin was a prolific inventor and scientist. His inventions include the lightning rod, bifocal glasses, and the Franklin stove. His scientific pursuits included investigations into electricity, mathematics, and mapmaking. He was the first to propose the Gulf Stream's existence and make a study of its effects on transatlantic travel.

Political Career

Franklin's political career began when he was elected to the Pennsylvania Assembly in 1751. He served as a delegate to the Albany Congress, where he proposed the Albany Plan of Union, an early attempt at forming a union of the colonies. He was also a member of the committee that drafted the Declaration of Independence, and he served as a diplomat to France during the American Revolutionary War.

Later Life and Death

In his later years, Franklin returned to Philadelphia and became president of the Executive Council of Pennsylvania. He also served as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention. He died on April 17, 1790, at the age of 84.

A portrait of Benjamin Franklin, an older man with white hair and glasses, wearing a dark coat with a white shirt.

Legacy

Franklin's legacy is vast and varied. His scientific and political achievements have had a lasting impact on America and the world. He is remembered as one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, Freemason, postmaster, scientist, inventor, humorist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat.