Benjamin_Franklin

Benjamin Franklin Benjamin Franklin was a man of many talents and skills. His life and works influenced not only his times but still today are reflected in our democracy and way of life. Franklin is remembered for his inventions, statesmanship, political views and writings and his tireless leadership. He was also an accomplished scientist and economist. His role as a “Founding Father” of this country is arguably his most important. As a statesman and co-author of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, Franklin’s legacy will always be synonymous with democracy and freedom. “Benjamin Franklin was a leader of America’s Revolutionary generation” (World Biography 60). Born in Boston, Massachusetts on January 17,1706, Franklin was the tenth and youngest son. His family was of modest means and were not able to afford a formal education. Though they had little money, ideas flowed and Franklin was taught to read at a young age. He was a serious youth who taught himself to write. The young Franklin worked in his brother’s printing press “the brothers often quarreled and the younger Franklin a mere apprentice was often treated severely”(The 17th & 18th centuries 492). Politics and religion were discussed constantly and “Franklin read every word that came into the shop and was soon writing clever pieces signed “Silence Dogood””(World Biography 60). The brothers argued constantly and finally in 1723 Franklin fled to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where he furthered his career in a print shop. Although Franklin was not formally educated he was an avid reader and accomplished writer. His insatiable curiosity allowed him to pursue many original ideas and scientific experiments. When considering the times in which he lived, which were lacking in technology, culture and transportation, Franklin’s genius is totally remarkable. His independent and innovative ideas were apparent from a young age and Franklin’s desire for exploration and change saw him charge into adulthood with uncommon zeal, energy and determination. Upon his arrival in Philadelphia, which would later become the city with which he is associated, Franklin began working as a printer and was sent to London by the Governor of the province to secure printing equipment. When the funds to purchase the equipment never arrived, Franklin was forced to take a job as a printer. Here Franklin discovered his passion for writing. He began to write in earnest refuting many popular ideas of the day. He became passionate about religious ideas and refuted many that were being written. Franklin believed that man’s service to God should be in man’s service to other men. After returning to Philadelphia two years later, he was well on his way to becoming a noted writer. In time, he began The Pennsylvania Gazette . This newspaper allowed Franklin to publish his political philosophies as well as his religious ideas. It allowed the common people to be exposed to political ideas that had not been available to them before the Gazette was in business. As time passed, Franklin began making major contributions to city life in Philadelphia. He is credited with helping to institute the fire department, paving department, street lights and the police department. He was instrumental in beginning the first circulating library and helped to begin the Academy of Education for Youth which later became The University of Pennsylvania. At this time Franklin began holding several small political offices. His passion for ideas and change led him to hold many different positions, growing more important with each new office he undertook. As deputy postmaster-general Franklin began to be noticed and was by 1754 a member of the Albany Congress. During his tenure as an assemblyman, Franklin was sent to Europe to help secure more friendly relations with England. Franklin grew to love England and struggled personally with his love of America and his admiration of England. As the years passed, he worked diligently to ease relations between the two countries. Franklin appreciated the desire of America to be free from oppressive government policies that the English government imposed while he strived to reach an agreement using diplomacy versus force. This process lasted several years, with Franklin traveling between Europe and America several times. As time passed Franklin became more convinced that the American colonists had legitimate complaints and that their right to independence from England seemed justified. His writings while in England grew more critical of the British and he wrote often of his opinions. Although he sought many different forms of diplomacy, the Boston Tea Party served as the final blow to his efforts. The American colonists were furious about unfair British taxes and revolted by throwing a huge shipment of British tea into Boston Harbor. In 1774, the royal government of England stripped him of his duties and publicly denounced him. Yet, he continued to try to promote a diplomatic resolution. To no avail, Franklin returned to Philadelphia in March of 1775. Immediately upon Franklin’s return, he was made a member of the second Continental Congress, which was in session. Things were extremely tense as a conflict had broken out on American soil with British soldiers at Lexington and Concord. The days were filled with angst and fear; yet Franklin set immediately to work serving on many important committees and establishing a post office and becoming postmaster general. In 1776, Franklin helped to draft an early version of the American Constitution. He was instrumental in writing the Declaration of Independence. At the age of seventy, Benjamin Franklin signed the Declaration of Independence, being its oldest signer. Later in 1776, the Continental Congress persuaded Franklin to travel to France to help secure French allegiance to the American colonists. He traveled with Arthur Lee and Silas Dean. The trip was difficult but Franklin rose to the occasion. He enjoyed a good reputation in France, as he was quite well known and widely respected for his humble manner, extensive writings and his flair for diplomacy. Franklin would become the sole ambassador to France and worked very hard to keep relations with the France on good terms. By February 1778, France was an ally of the colonists and was now at war with Great Britain. France supplied an army, navy and material goods as well as ammunition and helped the colonists defeat the British. When peace negotiations began, it was Franklin along with others that hammered out an excellent treaty with Great Britain which provided for complete independence from Great Britain and established the borders for the new country. Franklin is credited as having a major role in the treaty and his wise influence helped the United States position itself to become a world power and successful democracy. His ideologies formed the basis of the freedoms the United States still enjoys today. Although Franklin was nearly eighty years old when America was declared free from Great Britain’s rule, he returned home to Philadelphia to much work. He began writing immediately and was appointed to the executive council of Pennsylvania, where he was soon made president. Later, he was chosen as the delegate from Pennsylvania to the Philadelphia Convention. He was an instrumental writer of and proponent of the Constitution. His influence helped ratify the Constitution we are governed by some two hundred years later. Still another contribution weighing in on the side of freedom and democracy, Franklin’s signing of the Abolition of Slavery Act before his death, and he authored a letter filled with irony called ”On the Slave Trade” which was published with much comment in “The Federal Gazette”. As time continued to pass, Franklin continued his desire to improve upon what was already established. While it seems hard to believe that such an influential and busy man would have time for the pursuit of other interests, Benjamin Franklin spent his years in the quest for better understanding the world in which he lived. He continually sought to improve the environment around him. Franklin is known for his frugality and his tenacious nature. He often saw opportunities that others failed to notice. He constantly was learning and documenting things around him. He used his experiences to try and explain the things he noticed. His scientific and careful nature allowed him to experiment and invent things that seemed completely necessary to him. Franklin sought to improve simple things and also developed many of his ideas into inventions that have changed the course of history. Such inventions include the Franklin stove, a wood-burning unit that helped contain the heat of a fire, which helped to create more comfortable living spaces while burning wood more efficiently. Bifocal glasses are credited to Franklin, as he became frustrated by his inability to see both near and far at the same time. His driven personality coupled with a patient nature aided his efforts in improving things around him. Although others thought some of his ideas to be lofty and unusual, Franklin considered everything he did to be of true importance, in a humble way. His industrious endeavors led him to question all sorts of different uses for things. He could not be complacent if he saw an opportunity. Such an opportunity came about in 1751. Franklin was fascinated by all natural phenomenon, so he set out to prove that lightning was actually strong electrical currents, and performed his famous kite experiment. He published his findings over the next four years and helped pave the way for the extensive use of electricity in the coming centuries. Another contribution Franklin made was his version of an almanac. As a printer, Franklin had published many versions of almanacs and always saw room for improvement. Not surprisingly, he set out to write his own. Using the pen name Richard Saunders, Franklin created the famous Poor Richard’s Almanac which was published under his scrutiny form 1733 1758. It was the most popular almanac of the eighteenth century. His ideas were based on careful calculations and frugality. People of the time depended on the almanac and Franklin’s personality became intertwined with Saunders because they were so similar. Benjamin delighted in the almanac and took great pride in its’ contents. Many benefited from his information, as information was so limited in those times. In the area of civics, Franklin initiated a club called Junto in 1727. It was of, like himself, aspiring tradesmen that convened each week. To the citizens of Philadelphia it was clear that the men’s success in bettering the life of the city could a group be attributed to the same thing “plans and institutions to deal with needs cooperatively.” (World Biography 61) Franklin directed the Junto in sponsoring civic improvements such as a library, a fire company, learned society, a college, a hospital, and a insurance company. He also made influential proposals for a military, for clearing, cleaning, and lighting roads; and for a watch at night. As the World Biography states, “His simple but influential societal belief that men of goodwill, organizing and acting together, could deal effectively with civic concerns remained with him throughout his life.” “Franklin’s life was so varied and his achievements were so diverse that it seems as though there were several Franklins” (The 17th & 18th centuries 495). Benjamin Franklin had many talents and skills as he became well known as a scientist, inventor, statesman, printer, philosopher, musician, and economist. He is also considered a Founding Father and one of America’s most notable citizens. The way he lived his life has identical with the American way of living as (The 17th & 18th centuries 495) explains, “His life symbolized the rags-to-riches success of a self-made man, a theme of great importance in American thought.” Bibliography: Works Cited “Benjamin Franklin: Glimpses of the Man.” The Franklin Institute Online. 1994. The Franklin Institute. Online. Internet. 17 April 2002. Available: http://www.fi.edu/franklin/. Bellis, Mary “Benjamin Franklin” About.com . 2002. Online . Internet. 17, April 2002. Available: http://inventors.about.com Lemay, Leo JA “Benjamin Franklin: A Documentary History”. JA Leo Lemay. 1997. Online. Internet. 17 April 2002. Available: http://english.udel.edu/lemay/franklin/