Introduction
“A penny saved is a penny earned”, Benjamin Franklin quoted. Ben Franklin
was a man with many talents. As you probably know, he was one of the
founding fathers of the United States, and he is on the $100 dollar bill.
was a man with many talents. As you probably know, he was one of the
founding fathers of the United States, and he is on the $100 dollar bill.
Ben’s Family
Ben was born on Milk Street in Boston on January 17, 1706. He was the
15th child of his mother and father, Josiah Franklin, (dad) and Abiah Franklin,
(mom). He was the youngest of 10 sons in a family of 17. The parents
both needed to work very very hard in order to provide food for everyone.
Josiah had a shop where he made and sold candles. Abiah took care of the
house and children. They didn't have much money because they spend most
of it to feed the family.
15th child of his mother and father, Josiah Franklin, (dad) and Abiah Franklin,
(mom). He was the youngest of 10 sons in a family of 17. The parents
both needed to work very very hard in order to provide food for everyone.
Josiah had a shop where he made and sold candles. Abiah took care of the
house and children. They didn't have much money because they spend most
of it to feed the family.
Challenges/Successes
Ben didn't like to making candles, so he worked at his older brother James’s
printing shop as his brothers apprentice. The papers were signed, and 12 year
old Ben had to work for his brother until Ben was 21 years old. A printer uses
a machine called a printing press to print books, magazines, or newspapers.
Ben also did some writing while he was working for James, but never signed
it because he thought James wouldn’t publish it if the writing was his own
brothers.
printing shop as his brothers apprentice. The papers were signed, and 12 year
old Ben had to work for his brother until Ben was 21 years old. A printer uses
a machine called a printing press to print books, magazines, or newspapers.
Ben also did some writing while he was working for James, but never signed
it because he thought James wouldn’t publish it if the writing was his own
brothers.
In 1723, Ben quit working for James and moved to Philadelphia. At the time,
Philadelphia was the largest city in America. Ben continued to live there for
most of the rest of his life. He became the most famous person in Philadelphia.
People called him “The first citizen of Philadelphia.” For five more years,
Ben worked for other printers. In 1728, he became part owner of a print shop.
Ben printed a newspaper called The Pennsylvania Gazette, which became the
most popular newspaper in America. Ben also wrote a lot of articles for his
company.
Philadelphia was the largest city in America. Ben continued to live there for
most of the rest of his life. He became the most famous person in Philadelphia.
People called him “The first citizen of Philadelphia.” For five more years,
Ben worked for other printers. In 1728, he became part owner of a print shop.
Ben printed a newspaper called The Pennsylvania Gazette, which became the
most popular newspaper in America. Ben also wrote a lot of articles for his
company.
He published this famous newspaper from 1729 till 1766. In 1730, Ben married
Deborah Read Rogers. They had two sons within two years and they also had a
daughter ten years later. As a publisher and a writer, Ben had even more success
with an almanac, which he made and named Poor Richard's Almanac. He put
it out every year from 1733 until 1758. He also included sayings written by Ben
as “Poor Richard”. These sayings offered advice on how to be successful by
working hard and being good. Some of his best known saying are “Early to bed
and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise” and “God helps them
that help themselves.
Deborah Read Rogers. They had two sons within two years and they also had a
daughter ten years later. As a publisher and a writer, Ben had even more success
with an almanac, which he made and named Poor Richard's Almanac. He put
it out every year from 1733 until 1758. He also included sayings written by Ben
as “Poor Richard”. These sayings offered advice on how to be successful by
working hard and being good. Some of his best known saying are “Early to bed
and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise” and “God helps them
that help themselves.
During the period Ben had been inventing things, he had been one of the first
scientists to experiment with electricity. He made his most famous experiment
in 1752. He flew a homemade kite into a thunderstorm. When it was struck by
lightning, he proved that lightning is a form of electricity, and that people could control its power.
scientists to experiment with electricity. He made his most famous experiment
in 1752. He flew a homemade kite into a thunderstorm. When it was struck by
lightning, he proved that lightning is a form of electricity, and that people could control its power.
Ben’s Inventions
As I just wrote, Ben the invented the lightning rod. Ben also invented the
bifocals, an instrument called the glass harmonica, hand paddles to help you
swim faster, invented a popular stove called the Franklin stove, an electrostatic
machine, and a artificial arm. These all helped a lot of people in so many ways.
bifocals, an instrument called the glass harmonica, hand paddles to help you
swim faster, invented a popular stove called the Franklin stove, an electrostatic
machine, and a artificial arm. These all helped a lot of people in so many ways.
Conclusion
In the end, Ben had done so many good things. What do you think Benjamin
Franklin could have invented with the tools and technology that we have today?
Franklin could have invented with the tools and technology that we have today?
Editor's Note
I really wish that I could have met Ben, but he died a long time ago of Pleurisy
(a condition in which the pleura — a membrane consisting of a layer of tissue
that lines the inner side of the chest cavity and a layer of tissue that surrounds
the lungs — becomes inflamed. Also called pleuritis, pleurisy causes sharp
chest pain called pleuritic pain that worsens during breathing. He did many
many great things in his life. He turned out to be really successful and he made
tons and tons of money. He retired because he was making to much money!
(And because he was getting old). I hoped you liked my book!
(a condition in which the pleura — a membrane consisting of a layer of tissue
that lines the inner side of the chest cavity and a layer of tissue that surrounds
the lungs — becomes inflamed. Also called pleuritis, pleurisy causes sharp
chest pain called pleuritic pain that worsens during breathing. He did many
many great things in his life. He turned out to be really successful and he made
tons and tons of money. He retired because he was making to much money!
(And because he was getting old). I hoped you liked my book!
Timeline of Ben’s life
1706: Ben was born
1717: He invented swim paddles at the age of 11
1720: He loved reading and studying so much that he gave up lots of other activities to give him more time
to learn. He even gave up church
to learn. He even gave up church
1722: He gave up eating meat so that it would save him money to buy more books
1723: He began work as a printer, printing the newspapers and books he loved so much
1728: He had his first paper published. It was titled "Articles of Belief and Acts of Religion", and many
others papers followed.
others papers followed.
1729: He wrote a paper on the need for paper money in the colonies.
1736: He printed his first run of paper money for New Jersey.
1737: He was appointed as the first Postmaster of Philadelphia.
1746: Ben started his first of many electrical experiments.
1747: Ben's friend, Peter Collinson, from London sent him the item known as the electrical tube. It helped
strengthen Benjamin's resolve to find electricity
strengthen Benjamin's resolve to find electricity
1752: Ben conducts his famous kite and electricity experiment. He tied a key to a kite, and he flew it in a
lightning storm.
lightning storm.
1753: Ben was appointed the joint Postmaster General of North America. He later mapped out all the mail
routes in the colonies.
routes in the colonies.
1776: Ben helped write the Declaration of Independence.
1783: He invented the bifocal glasses, which allowed a person to see clearly up close or far away
1790: Ben died at the age of 84. He contributed to the founding of public schooling, the money system,
religious institutions, the American government, and more-he will never be forgotten.
religious institutions, the American government, and more-he will never be forgotten.
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