Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) was an American statesman whose efforts were critical to the success of the American Revolution. In the political arena, he worked as a diplomat in France and England, as well as serving in both the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention. He worked with Thomas Jefferson on writing the Declaration of Independence and was instrumental in facilitating compromises in the U.S. Constitution.

Franklin was also a noted scientist, philosopher, journalist, and inventor.

Early Life

Franklin was born on January 17, 1706 in Boston, Massachusetts into a Puritan family. His father was Josiah Franklin, a soap and candle maker, that was twice married and had 17 children. Originally Josiah planned for his son to enter the ministry, but after 2 years of schooling changed his mind. Benjamin briefly worked as an apprentice under his father before being apprenticed to his brother James, who was a printer, at the age of 12. After losing the contract to print one of Boston's newspapers, James created the first independent newspaper in the colonies, a weekly publication called the New England Courant. The Courant became Franklin's first public forum and he began writing essays under the pseudonym Silence Dogood. Franklin, taking the position of a widow, wrote 14 essays between April and October 1722. The Courant would draw the attention of the local authorities, who prohibited James from publishing it, because they claimed it mocked religion. In order to continue printing, James released his brother from his apprenticeship and named him the publisher. Control would eventually be handed back over to James, but Benjamin would use this release to run away to Philadelphia at the age of 17.