BENJAMIN FRANKLIN was born in
Boston, Massachusetts, on January 17, 1706. He was the tenth son of Josiah
Franklin. His parents discovered his genius at an early age, and they resolved
to make sure he received an education. He was placed in a grammar school, where
he excelled. However, after a year his parents could no longer afford the
expense of his education. Franklin was brought home to pursue his father’s
business – that of a candle maker. He lasted two years and found that cutting
wicks for candles, filling moulds, and running errands did not suit him. He
wanted a life at sea, but his parents strongly objected to this idea. They had
already lost one son at sea. They listened to Franklin, however, and he was
permitted to change his business and choose an occupation to which he felt more
suited.
From an early age, Benjamin had a fondness for books and read everything he
could get his hands on. His father’s library was scanty, but he perused it
with great attention. Works such as Defoe’s Essay upon Projects, Mather’s
Essay on Doing Good and the Lives of Plutarch had a great and favorable
influence on young Benjamin’s mind. His father, noticing his love of books,
proposed that he apprentice with one of his older brothers, who was at that time
a printer of a newspaper in Boston. Franklin agreed and started working in his
brother’s print shop when he was barely twelve years old. He quickly became
accomplished in the mechanical aspects of the business. Meanwhile, he seized
every opportunity to read any books he could borrow.
He indulged himself in writing ballads and other poetical pieces, but his
father soon convinced him to express himself in compositions and prose. In
writing Franklin excelled. With a passion for reading and writing, young
Franklin soon was anonymously inserting some of his papers and essays into his
brother’s newspaper. These were read and highly commended by the people of
Boston. Franklin’s brother was now treating Benjamin indignantly and with so
much severity that young Franklin decided to leave him. He secretly took passage
aboard a vessel bound for New York. After spending a few days there, seeking in
vain to procure a job, he proceeded on foot to Philadelphia where he arrived
fatigued and destitute. He was seventeen years old, almost four hundred miles
from home, penniless, without employment, and did not know a single person in
the city.
The day after he arrived, Franklin wandered through the streets of
Philadelphia looking like a beggar. His appearance attracted the notice of
several citizens of the city, including a Miss Reed, who would later become his
wife. At this time there were but two printing offices in Philadelphia.
Fortunately, in one of these he found employment as compositor. His conduct was
very appropriate, having gained experience with his brother; and he was
attentive to business. His precision not only entrusted him to his employer but
was also noticed by several respectable citizens who promised him their
patronage and support. Among those who took notice of him was Sir William Keith,
governor of the province.
The governor became aware of Franklin’s recent adventures, and he professed
a deep interest in his welfare. He proposed that Franklin start his own business
and promised to aid him, refer him to his friends, and award him the
government’s printing business. Moreover, the governor urged him to return to
Boston, to seek the approval and assistance of his father. The governor gave
Franklin a letter to take to his father, full of assurances of affection for and
promises of support to the son. With this in hand, Franklin sailed for Boston.
After an absence of several months, he again entered his father’s house and
was greeted with open arms by his family. He gave his father Governor Keith’s
letter and explained the reason for his return. His father advised him, however,
to forget the project and wrote his reply to Governor Keith, citing Franklin’s
youth and inexperience. Franklin followed the advice of his father and returned
to his employment in Philadelphia.
Upon learning of the advice and decision of Franklin’s father, Governor
Keith offered to furnish the necessary materials himself. He proposed that
Franklin make a voyage to England to procure the items he needed to establish
his own printing business. Franklin readily accepted, and with gratitude to his
generous benefactor, he sailed for England in 1725. He was accompanied by his
friend Ralph, one of his literary associates in Philadelphia. Before his
departure, Franklin exchanged promises of fidelity with Miss Reed. They had
grown close while he had lodged at her father’s house. Upon his arrival in
London, Franklin found that Governor Keith had deceived him. His letters of
credit and recommendations were worthless.
He was now obliged to work as a journeyman printer and obtained employment in
an office in London. His friend Ralph did not easily find a job and was a
constant drain upon Franklin’s earnings. In that great city, the morals of the
young travelers were not improved either. Ralph forgot, or acted as if he had
forgotten, that he had a wife and child across the Atlantic; and Franklin was
equally forgetful of his promises and engagement to Miss Reed. Having resided
about a year and a half in London, Franklin concerted a scheme with an
acquaintance to make a tour of Europe. At this time, however, he fell in company
with a mercantile friend, who was returning home to Philadelphia, and who now
persuaded Franklin to abandon his tour and to enter his service in the capacity
of a clerk. On July 22, 1726, they set sail for Philadelphia, where they arrived
on October 11th.
Franklin’s prospects were bright. He had connected with his new profession,
and his attention to business gained the confidence of his employer so much that
he was about to be commissioned as supercargo to the West Indies. Suddenly, his
patron died and not only were Franklin’s prospects blighted, but he was once
more unemployed. He had, however, one resort— to return to the business of
printing in the service of his former master. This he did, and at length he
became superintendent of the printing house.
In 1732, Franklin published the maiden issue of Poor Richard’s Almanack –
a collection of wit, wisdom and common sense philosophies that would win wide
attention on both sides of he Atlantic.
Franklin’s reputation as a genius was not built upon any single talent but
rather on diversified pursuits. A man of enormous vision, Franklin invented the
lightning rod, bifocal glasses, and the Franklin stove. He helped establish the
University of Pennsylvania, organized the first city fire department, and the
first city street cleaning department. In addition, Dr. Franklin excelled in a
variety of civil posts including Postmaster General of the united colonies.
As a delegate to the Second Continental Congress, Franklin proved to be a man
of reticence, not one to hurry a decision. This proved an annoyance to many of
his fellow delegates who were more bullish in their arm-flailing, outward
approach to independence. In fact, rumors circulated in the city of Philadelphia
that Dr. Franklin’s sympathies might lie too heavily with England, that he
might have come to this Second Continental Congress not as a friend but as a spy
for the crown. These rumors were dispelled by early July 1776, however, when it
became clearly evident that he was working mightily for the cause – not
perhaps in heated debate on the floor of Congress, but behind the scenes in
corridors and over tavern tables. It was Benjamin Franklin who would receive
Thomas Jefferson’s draft of he Declaration for editing.
The
signature of Benjamin Franklin appears on all four of the most important
American documents – the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Alliance
with France, the Constitution of the United States, and the Treaty of Peace with
England.
A
Pennsylvania currency note, printed by Benjamin Franklin and David Hall. This
note bears the famous motto "To Counterfeit is Death.”
Donaldson’s
Crossroads Land Grant dated May 23, 1787“
… a certain tract of land called ‘Donaldson’ situate on the waters of
Peters Creek in Washington County … unto John Mc Daniel and his heirs …” signed
"B.
Franklin."
We invite you to read a transcription
of the complete text of the Declaration as presented by the National Archives.
&
The article "The
Declaration of Independence: A History,"
which provides a detailed account of the Declaration, from its drafting through
its preservation today at the National Archives.
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Letter from Benjamin Franklin to Vice President
John Adams transmitting a petition from the Society for the Abolition of
Slavery and an address of the people called Quakers on the subject of
the abolition of the slave trade
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