Ben Franklin

Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin was the son of Josiah Franklin and Abiah (Folger) Franklin, on January 17, 1705, in Boston, Massachusetts. Benjamin was the tenth son of Josiah. Benjamin learned to read at a very young age, taught by his father who wanted him to work in the church. Benjamin was also sent to eight years of the Boston Grammar School. Money became an issue, less than a year later, Benjamin transferred to George Brownell's school for writing and arithmetic. At the age of nine, Benjamin heard Increase Mather preach. When Ben turned ten he started working for his father as a soap boiler. He didn't like this job, so Benjamin was apprenticed to his half-brother, James. He was a printer who started the New England Courant, the fourth newspaper in the colonies. James was taken up and censur'd, and thrown in prison for a month. The paper was then under the management of Benjamin, with a false name. Then Benjamin and James had major arguments that eventually lead to the departure of Benjamin to Philadelphia for Boston in October of 1723, at the age of seventeen. He was then hired by Samuel Keimer, in a print shop. Takes lodging with John Read whose daughter Deborah will become Franklin's wife in 1730. He met the eccentric Gov. Keith who wanted Benjamin to set up for himself, so he sent him to London to buy the necessary equipment, and promised him that he would have letters of credit sent to him. Benjamin never received any of these letters of credit that he was promised, so he went out and got a job. He found employment at Palmer's printing-house. He later returned to Philadelphia in October of 1726. He returned with the money, Mr. Denham, a Quaker merchant who gave Benjamin money to return home and in return would work as a clerk. When Denham mysteriously died, Benjamin was employed again by Samuel Keimer. Around 1728 Benjamin has an affair with a woman that results in the birth of his illegitimate son William in 1728 or 1729. He then left Keimer printer shop, to form a partnership with Hugh Meredith. Benjamin then rents a building that serves as his home and print shop. Benjamin becomes solo owner of the business which included the popular paper today, The Pennsylvania Gazette, which Benjamin and Meredith bought around 1729.

Benjamin settled down in 1730, when he married Deborah Read. They had two children the first born child was Francis Folger in 1732. Also in 1732, Benjamin wrote Poor Richard Almanac. The second child, Sarah, was conceived in 1744. Benjamin had his two illegitimate children. Deborah was illiterate and could not comprehend anything that Benjamin was interested in. She was in love with him, and was very devoted to him. In 1745, Benjamins father, Josiah dies. Benjamin begins electrical experimenting. He writes a pamphlet arguing for military preparedness in Pennsylvania, "The Plain Truth." He was the first to make a political cartoon inside of the pamphlet. Benjamin joins the Pennsylvania Militia after turning down a Colonel position due to his lack of experience. In 1752, Benjamin conducts his famous kite experiment, consequently, he discovers electricity. He receives the Copley Medal of the royal Society of