ABC Biography of

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ABC Biography of

• Benjamin Franklin

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Although Ben Franklin was born in Boston, the
city of Philadelphia was known as his home.
Benjamins father wanted him to go into the
clergy.
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Clergymen require years of school and Bens
father could only afford to send him for one year.
During his youth, Ben worked as an apprentice in
his brothers printing and newspaper businesses.
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Even though Ben had kept the newspaper going
while his brother was in prison, his brother
harassed and beat him when he was released.
For his own safety, Ben ran away to Philadelphia.
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Getting started in his own business was
difficult, but Ben managed to open his own print
shop.
He married his childhood sweetheart and together
they ran the print shop, a general store, and a
book store.
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In 1729, Benjamin bought a newspaper, The
Pennslyvania Gazette. He contributed articles
under aliases and created the first political
cartoon.
Just a few years later, in 1733, Ben began to
write and publish Poor Richards Almanac.
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Keeping to his strong civic convictions, Ben
launched projects to pave, clean, and light
Philadelphias streets.
Later, he started the first fire department in
the city, and founded an insurance company for
those who lost homes in fires.
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Making a decision to retire from business in
1749, Ben started concentrating on science,
experiments, and inventions.
Never one to give up, Ben invented swim fins,
bifocals, the Franklin stove, and other things.
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Observations, such as his kite experiment, led to
the discovery of electricity.
Politics became an active interest for Franklin
and he spent the next 18 years in England as a
colonial representative.
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Quitting his London position, Franklin returned
to America where he worked on the committee to
draft the Declaration of Independence.
Right after his wife died, Franklin moved to
France where he served as an ambassador.
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Speaking a little French, Franklin became with
the ladies and was a notorious flirt.
The Treaty of France was signed by Franklin in
1783, after the Americans had won the Revolution.
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Until his late seventies, Franklin stayed in
France. Finally he returned to America.
Voters elected Franklin to the Executive council
of Pennsylvania.
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While serving as a delegate, Franklin signed the
Constitution.
eXactly why he died is not known, but Franklin
passed away in 1790 at the age of 84.
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Years of public service had made Franklin very
popular. Over 20,000 people attended his funeral.
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Zealous supporters say that Franklins electric
personality still lights the world.
Information and images in this presentation are
from http//www.ushistory.org/franklin/