Benjamin Franklin Biography

Benjamin Franklin was the best known founding father of polymath, scientist, inventor, printer, politician, freemason and diplomat. But he never served as the president of the US. In 1783, he negotiated the Treaty of Paris for ending the revolutionary war. Franklin worked for drafting the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. 

He also pursuits his scientific investigation on mathematics, electricity and mapmaking. He was also known for wisdom and wit. The popular book published by Benjamin Franklin was Poor Richard’s Almanack. In this book, he investigated the bifocal glasses and organized the first successful American lending library. 

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Early Life of Benjamin Franklin

According to the ben franklin autobiography summary, Franklin’s birthday was on 17th January 1706 in Boston. This place was later termed as Massachusetts Bay Colony. Benjamin Franklin’s father was Josiah Franklin and he was the English-born soap and candlemaker.  Benjamin Franklin was the 15th and youngest child. Josiah Franklin’s first wife was Anne Child and they had seven children. Abiah Folger was the second wife of  Josiah Franklin and they have more than 10 children. 

Franklin was much interested in reading books from a young age.  He studied at the Boston Latin School, but he stopped from school at the age of 10. And started his full-time work with his father as cash-strapped in candle and soap shops. 

When Franklin was at the age of 12, his father Josiah asked him to work with his older brother James. Meanwhile, Benjamin Franklin learned about newspaper publications. Franklin also adopted a similar brand for subversive politics under the printer’s tutelage.

Early Career of Benjamin Franklin 

As per Ben Franklin Biography, While Franklin was at the age of 16, his brother James refused to publish the writing of Benjamin Franklin. So, he adopted the name Mrs Silence Dogood and her 14 imaginative and funny letters impressed the readers of The New England Courant, which was his brother owned newspaper. James became angry about Franklin’s writings and invites from viewers. Later, James turned harsh and brutal towards his brother Franklin. According to Benjamin Franklin biography summary, Franklin decided to leave Boston in 1723 even though he had three years of legally binding contract with his master. Before reaching Philadelphia, he settled in New York and began his work in another printer.  Franklin spent the rest of his life in Philadelphia.

Benjamin Franklin Short Biography in London 

Pennsylvania Governor William Keith encouraged Franklin to set up his own print shop through the letter. In 1724, Franklin reached London for purchasing supplies from booksellers, stationers, and printers. As soon as Franklin arrived back in England, he got cheated and never received information about Keith’s letters. This forced Franklin to find work at London’s print shops. He got advantages in the city by attending theatre performances, mingling with the locals in coffee houses. As per Ben Franklin biography, he continued his lifelong passion for reading. 

Franklin learnt swimming by himself and performed a long-distance swim on the Thames River. In 1725, Franklin published his first booklet,  "A Dissertation upon Liberty and Necessity, Pleasure and Pain".  In this book, he argued about human’s lack of free will and that they are not morally responsible for their actions. 

Benjamin Franklin Biography Summary About His Family 

After moving from Boston to Philadelphia. In 1723, Franklin stayed in the home of John Read, where he met his landlord’s daughter, Deborah. After returning to Philadelphia in 1726, Franklin married Deborah and had a son, Williams. Franklin’s first son  Francis died at the age of 4 years in 1732.  Sarah was the only daughter of Franklin in 1743. In 1762, Franklin’s son William took charge in the office of New Jersey’s royal governor. That was the position arranged by Franklin through his political connections in the British government. 

Franklin’s LIfe in Philadelphia

Franklin returned to Philadelphia in 1726 and found various jobs including bookkeeper, currency cutter and shopkeeper. In 1728, Franklin with his friends opened their own print shop in Philadelphia, which was for publishing the government’s pamphlets and books. Franklins was named his official printer of Pennsylvania in 1730. Franklin developed the “Junto”, which is a self-improvement and social study group for youngsters. They used to meet on Friday to debate morality, philosophy and politics. When Junto members thought to expand their reading choice, In 1731, Franklin incorporated America’s first subscription library, the Library Company of Philadelphia. 

In 1729, Franklin also published a famous book  "A Modest Enquiry into The Nature and Necessity of a Paper Currency". In that book, he advocated the increase in the money supply to stimulate the economy. 

In 1732 launched the first German-language newspaper in the colonies in Philadelphische Zeitung, but he could not find enough success with his newspaper. During the 1730’s they succeeded. Franklin entered into real estate and businesses meanwhile, they organized the volunteer Union Fire Company to counteract dangerous fire hazards in Philadelphia. In 1731, Franklin joined the Freemasons and was elected as grandmaster of the Masons of Pennsylvania.

A Popular Book of Franklin 

In 1732, Franklin published his first edition of Poor Richard’s Almanack. He also published various booklets for  25 consecutive years, which includes proverbs, astronomical information, and weather forecasts. Franklin also published witty maxims proverbs such as  “He that lies down with dogs, shall rise up with fleas.” and  “Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.” 

Franklin as Scientist and Inventor 

In the 1740s Franklin entered into science and entrepreneurship. "A Proposal for Promoting Useful Knowledge" was a pamphlet published by Franklin in 1743 and explored his interests and served as the founding document of the American Philosophical Society. He was the first scientist to publish such pamphlets in the scientific society in the colonies.

In 1748, Franklin was at the age of 42 years. He became one of the richest men in Pennsylvania. Franklin also became a soldier in the Pennsylvania militia. He handed over his printing business to his partners to engage himself in conducting scientific experiments. In 1748, Franklin moved to his new house. 

Franklin’s Inventions 

Franklin as a scientist is part of the best Benjamin Franklin biography. He made numerous inventions in his life. Franklin’s stove was his first invention. He found it in 1740. This stove provided more heat while comparing with other fuel stoves. Franklin invented bifocals, through which people can use it for both distance and reading. In 1761, franklin invented a musical bent and developed the armonica. Franklin also invented Flexible catheter, American penny and Rocking chair, 

While Franklin returned from a trip across the Atlantic Ocean from London in 1775, he discovered the Gulf Stream. Through his invention, he decreased the time span for sailing from Europe to North America. In 1752, Franklin demonstrated the lighting in electricity by conducting the famous kite-and-key experiment, meanwhile, he invented the lightning rod. Franklin also found some new electricity-related terms, which are part of the lexicon like battery, conductor, charge, and electrify.

Franklin’s Action Against Slavery

In 1748, Franklin found the people working as slaves in the new home of the print shop. He stood with slaves to free them and enslaved people in the 1760s. Later, Franklin served as the president of the Pennsylvania Society. Through that, he promoted the Abolition of Slavery and also wrote many articles for the abolition of slavery. He also gave a petition to the  U.S. Congress to find an end to slavery and trade in 1790. 

In 1775, Franklin served as the first postmaster general in the second continental congress. In 1776, Franklin was one of the five men to draft the Declaration of Independence. And also appointed as the commissioner to Canada. 

Franklin’s Life in Paris 

In 1776, after voting for independence Franklin was elected as commissioner to France. Also, Franklin served as the first U.S. ambassador to France. Benjamin Franklin also negotiated a treaty for the country’s financial support and military. Franklin’s wife Deborah died and at the age of 74, he made another proposal to the widow Madame Helvetius. But she refused to accept Franklin. He had a close attachment with France. He stood strong with his scientific community and he also became a political appointee from a fledgling country.

His reputation brought more respect and entrees in many communities, which includes King Louis XVI’s court. In 1783, Benjamin Franklin adopted diplomacy, which led to the Treaty of Pari, meanwhile revolutionary war came to end. He spent about a decade in France and returned to the United States in 1785. 

Franklin, While Drafting The U.S. Constitution

In 1787, Franklin was elected to represent Pennsylvania in the Constitutional Convention. Franklin also drafted and ratified the new U.S. Constitution. Franklin was one of the oldest representatives. He initially became the partial supporter and representative for congress. Later he made a Great compromise to congress and made representation for states in the Senate. In 1787, Franklin also founded the Society for Political Inquiries, through which he spread the knowledge of government. Franklin also played an important role as one of eight founding fathers and helped the draft Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.

Franklin also played an important role in the government. Franklin was also elected to the Pennsylvania Assembly. Franklin was also appointed as the first diplomat to France and the postmaster general for the colonies. 

Death of Franklin 

Franklin died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania On 17th April 1790. At that time Franklin was staying in his daughter’s home. According to Benjamin Franklin an American Life Summary, he got affected by gout at the age of 84 years and suffered for more than a year. Franklin also gave most of his property to Sarah and very little to his son William. Franklin also donated funds for scholarships, schools and museums in Boston and Philadelphia.

Franklin shared a gravestone with his wife in the cemetery of Philadelphia’s Christ Church and was simply written as “Benjamin and Deborah Franklin 1790.”