Benjamin Franklin played a pivotal role in the early days of
our country. In addition to being the only Founding Father to sign the
Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Alliance with France, the Treaty of
Paris establishing peace with Great Britain, and the U.S. Constitution, he was
also a scientist, inventor, diplomat, and publisher.
Early Life
Benjamin Franklin was born on January 17, 1706, in Boston,
Massachusetts. He was one of his parents’ eight children. Although his formal
education ended when he was 10, Franklin was a skilled writer and avid reader.
At age 12, he became a printer apprentice to his older brother James. He went
on to work as a printer in London and Philadelphia.
In 1728, Franklin opened his own printing shop in
Philadelphia. One year later, he took over the Pennsylvania
Gazette, publishing the newspaper and writing a great deal of the content under
pseudonyms. Franklin also annually published the Poor Richard’s
Almanack
from 1733 to 1758. Many maxims, such as “Early to bed, early to rise,
makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise,” are still heard today.
In 1730, Franklin took Deborah Read as
his common-law wife. Because Read’s first husband had abandoned her, Franklin
could not legally marry her. Franklin and Read had a son, Francis, who died of
smallpox at age 4, as well as a daughter. Another son, William, was born out of
wedlock.
Public Service
Franklin’s extremely successful printing business allowed
him to retire in his 40s. Thereafter, he became increasingly involved in
politics. After serving as the postmaster for Philadelphia, he was appointed
the deputy postmaster-general for the British colonies in 1753. Franklin was
also involved in civic projects and community affairs. He served as the first
president of Academy and College of Philadelphia, which later became
the University of Pennsylvania.
In 1766, Franklin argued before the British
Parliament against the Stamp Act
of 1765, which required that all legal documents, newspapers, books, playing
cards and other printed materials in the American colonies carry a tax
stamp. In July 1775, the Continental Congress named Franklin the first
postmaster general of the United States.
In 1776, Franklin helped draft the Declaration of
Independence. During the subsequent Revolutionary War, Congress sent Franklin
to France, where he played in instrumental role in the country signing a Treaty
of Alliance. In 1783, Franklin drafted and negotiated the Treaty of
Paris that brought the Revolutionary War to an end. From 1785 to 1788,
Franklin served as governor of Pennsylvania.
Scientific Achievements
Franklin was a prolific inventor. His inventions
included the lightning rod, glass harmonica, Franklin
wood-burning stove, bifocal glasses and the flexible urinary
catheter. He did not seek patent protection for any of his inventions. As he
explained in his autobiography, “[A]s we enjoy great advantages from the
inventions of others, we should be glad of an opportunity to serve others by any
invention of ours; and this we should do freely and generously.”
Franklin also made many other scientific contributions. In
1752, he proved that lightning is electricity through his famous kite
experiment. His studies and experiments also contributed to our early
understanding of ocean currents, meteorology, and illnesses such as the common
cold.
Later Life
In 1785, Franklin returned to
Philadelphia from serving as Ambassador to France. Two years later, he served
as one of Pennsylvania’s delegate to the Constitutional Convention. At age 81,
he was the oldest delegate. He went on to argue in favor of ratification. Franklin on April 17, 1790, at
the age of 84. He is honored for his many accomplishments with his image
on the $100 bill.
