Transcript Ben Franklin (1706 – 1790)

Ben Franklin
(1706 – 1790)
Autobiography
 Started at age 65
 Never finished it
 Published posthumously
 Began as a letter to his son, William
Poor Richard’s Almanack
 Almanacs were popular – contained information
about the calendar, schedules, planting, weather
predictions, etc.
 Poor Richard was first published in 1733
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Was supposedly the work of Poor Richard Saunders
An imaginary astrologer with a critical wife
 He passed on his experience and wisdom
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 Sold 10,000 copies every year
 Popular because of jokes and aphorisms (one sentence, witty
sayings)
 Published one every year for 25 years
Early Life
 Born in Boston
 One of 17 children
 Rags to riches life story
 Had to quit school early
 Worked as an apprentice to his brother (printing
company)
Early Life
 Ben wanted to write, but brother wouldn’t let him
 Wrote letters as Silence Dogood and submitted them
anonymously
 Very popular – at 16 Ben admitted he was “Silence” – brother
angry and jealous
 James was jailed for a disagreement with the
Mathers
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Ben ran the paper
When James was released, wasn’t thankful
Would beat up Franklin
Ben ran away
Civic Duties
 Eventually married Deborah Read, the girl who saw
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him when he was a disheveled wreck on his first day
in Philadelphia
Published the Pennsylvania Gazette
Helped found the Academy of Pennsylvania (later
University of Pennsylvania)
Founded the first public library in America
Launched the American Philosophical Society (first
learned society in America)
Helped to form the Pennsylvania Hospital
Inventions
 The Franklin Stove
 Bifocals
 A type of harmonica
 Research of electricity
 Swim fins
 A rocking chair that could swat flies
Politics
 Lived in London in the 1750’s and 60’s as an agent of
Pennsylvania’s Assembly
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He was quite popular & liked it there (theater, fine thinkers)
 Back in America, helped to draft The Declaration of
Independence
 Spent time in France
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He was even more popular there than in England
Was a hit with the ladies (his wife had passed)
 Later returned to America and signed the
Constitution