Who Was Benjamin Franklin?

       Benjamin Franklin, LL.D., an American philosopher, patriot and statesman; borm at Boston, January 17, 1706. He was the fifteenth child and youngest son (of a family of seventeen children) of Josiah Franklin, an Englishman, who came to America in 1682 and was a tallow-chandler and soap-boiler.  

       At an early age Benjamin Franklin evinced a passion for a seafaring life, and his father, to prevent his running away, bound him as apprentice to his brother, James Franklin, a printer. He now obtained free access to books, for which he had a remarkable fondness. He studied very late at night and occasionally sent anonymous contributions to a paper conducted by his brother, which were very favorably received. Becoming a skillful printer at the age of seventeen, he removed to Philadelphia, where he was at first employed as a journeyman printer; but afterward deciding to go into business for himself, and having been promised some aid by a friend, he went to London to procure the necessary materials. Disappointed in the remittances which he expected, he was compelled to work in that city as a journeyman. After remaining there more than a year he returned to Philadelphia in 1726, and three years later was enabled to commence business for himself. He married Deborah Read in 1730. He established the Pennsylvania Gazette, which became in a short time exceedingly popular as well as profitable. He began to publish in 1732 an almanac which became celebrated as Poor Richard's Almanac though purporting to be issued by Richard Saunders. As an editor he did all that lay in his power to promote every enterprise for the public good. Through his efforts the Philadelphia Library was founded in 1731, and grew to be one of the most extensive in the United States. Justly appreciated for his honesty, prudence, and ability, he was the recipient of many honors. He became clerk of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania in 1736, postmaster of Philadelphia in the year following, and Deputy Postmaster-General for the British colonies in 1753. He was sent to England four years later by the people of Pennsylvania as their representative in the contest with the proprietaries regarding the exemption of their estates from taxation. He performed the duties of his mission before the Privy Council with ability and success, and on returning to America, in 1762, received the thanks of the Assembly. Having already attained distinction among scientific men by his successful experiments in electricity, he made a valuable and brilliant discovery in 1752, by means of a kite, of the identity of lightning with electricity. An account of his discoveries was read before the Royal Society, but was treated by that body with little consideration. Count de Buffon, however, having obtained a copy, caused it to be translated into French. It immediately attracted great attention in Europe. The Royal Society, having the subject again brought before it, and without any request on the part of Franklin, immediately elected him a Fellow, excused him from the payment of the usual admission fees, awarded him the Copley gold medal, and presented him with their Transactions. In 1762 the degree of LL.D. was conferred upon him by the Universities of Oxford and Edinburgh. He was again sent to England by the Assembly in 1764 to oppose the measures for taxing the American colonies, but the Stamp Act was passed in 1765. However, by his rare tact and ability he succeeded in obtaining the repeal of that obnoxious law, but other subjects of dispute of equal importance still remained unsettled.

       Franklin, after an absence of more than ten years, returned to America May 5, 1775. On the day following he was unanimously elected a delegate to the Continental Congress by the Assembly of Pennsylvania. He was one of the committee of five who drew up the Declaration of Independence, which was approved by Congress, July 4, 1776, and was afterward signed by Franklin and others. Sent as Ambassador to France in the latter part of that year, he was chiefly instrumental in forming the treaty of alliance between that country and the United States, which conferred such signal benefits on the cause of independence.

         Franklin also took a prominent part in negotiating a treaty of peace with England, the preliminary articles of which were signed at Paris, November 30, 1782. The full treaty itself was signed in that city, September 3, 1783, by Franklin, Adams, and Jay. After negotiating a treaty with Prussia, in which he inserted a clause against privateering, he returned to Philadelphia in September, 1785, and in October was elected President of Pennsylvania, to which position he was re-elected in 1786 and 1787. He sat as a delegate in the Convention which met in Philadelphia in 1787 to form a Constitution of the United States.

       Franklin was a President of the Society for the Abolition of Slavery. He died April 17, 1790.

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