FREE ESSAY ON BEN FRANKLIN

BEN FRANKLIN

Benjamin Franklin was one of the most influential people in American history. Franklin was
born on January 17, 1706, in a small town in Boston. Benjamin was one of ten children.
His father, Josiah was a candle and soap maker, and his mother Abiah Folger was a
homemaker. When Benjamin was only twelve years old he signed his identures so that he
could apprentice under his brother, working at a printing press. Here he worked for his
brother James for over nine years. Benjamin had enormous talent, and after his
apprenticeship was up, he got a job printing for the Boston Gazette. However this did not
last very long, after only ten months Franklin's contract was given to someone else. This
prompted Ben to start his own newspaper called the New England Courant. This was the
beginning of a long life of success for Ben Franklin.
Franklin had outstanding writing talent. His new business had done very well, but
Franklin wanted more. Ben wanted to take over Philadelphia's biggest newspapers, The
Pennsylvania Gazette. In the year 1729 Franklin bought this newspaper. He renamed it
(Thank Heavens) The Pennsylvania Gazette. 
In the year 1730 Franklin had fathered a son. There were many rumors, as to whom the
mother was, but Franklin never released her name. As a result of this Franklin wanted to
get married. A woman named Deborah Read moved into his home, and became his common law
wife. During this time Franklin had established himself as a leader in the Philadelphia
community. He helped to establish Philadelphia's first public library. Franklin is also
accredited with publishing the first almanac in 1732. Its name was Poor Richard's
Almanack.
Benjamin Franlkin's political career began in 1736. In this year he was elected clerk of
the state legislature. Franklin had many ideas that benefited the city of Philadelphia.
Upon his request a tax was established to provide better watchmen. He also helped
organize volunteer firefighters. Ben also proposed a lottery to help bring money into the
city, and he chartered a university that is name after him today, called the University
of Pennsylvania. 
Franklin's print shop had made him a wealthy man, and in 1748 the success of the print
shop had allowed Franklin to retire early. Franklin could now use his time to focus on
his two other favorite things: science and politics. 
Soon after his retirement Franklin became extremely interested in experimenting with
electricity. Franklin was one of the first people to suggest that lightning was merely
naturally occurring electricity, and that it could be drawn from the clouds. In 1752, Ben
Franklin performed his kite experiment. Here Franklin had his proof of lightning's
electrical nature. Franklin wrote specifics on how the experiment was to be done, it
said
This kite is to be raised when a thunder-gust appears to be coming on, and 
the person who holds the string must stand within a door or window, or
under some cover, so that the silk ribbon may not be wet; and care must be 
taken that the twine does not touch the frame of the door or window. As soon
as any of the thunder-clouds come over the kite, the pointed wire will draw 
electric fire from them, and the kite, with all the twine, will be electrified, and 
the loose filaments of the twine will stand out every way, and be attracted by
an approaching finger. And when the rain has wet the kite and twine, so that 
it can conduct the electric fire freely, you will find it stream out plentifully from
the key on the approach of your knuckle. At this key the phial may be charged; 
and from electric fire thus obtained. (Amacher 141)
This experiment is one that gave Ben Franklin international fame. This however is not the
only scientific material that Franklin studied. He also studied weather, and storm
patterns. Franklin also studied medicine. When one of his brothers was sick he invented
the instrument known as the catheter. Franklin was not a one sided person, he studied all
different subjects and helped pave the was for researchers today.
Franklin was one of the most well respected people in his lifetime. Many people admired
him for his well-rounded education, and his leadership abilities. In the year of 1757
Franklin was sent to London to negotiate with the heirs of William Penn. Penn's heirs
believed that they had authority over the citizens of Pennsylvania. However he could not
make a compromise with Penn's heirs. However this trip was not a total loss. While
overseas, Franklin was bestowed an honary degree from St. Andrews University in Scotland
in 1759, and from Oxford University in England in 1762. 
Franklin arrived back in London in 1765. At this time the English Parliament had passed
the Stamp Act. Franklin did all he could to get the Stamp Act turned down, but it was out
of his control. Back in the colony's people were outraged. No taxation without
representation became the phrase for the colonist who opposed this tax. Franklin took it
upon himself to represent all of America during this period. He met several times with
the Brittish to try to overturn this tax. The Brittish told him that they were doing this
as a way to make money they lost during the French and Indian War. Franklin refused to
allow this act to be brought upon the colonists. He argued that it was the colonist's who
had 
aided the Brittish throughout the war. His words had convinced parliament, and in 1766,
the Stamp Act was revoked.
Franklin's trip to England was not only to meet with the Penns, but he also wanted the
Brittish to realize the importance of the American colonies. Franklin believed that the
Brittish undervalued, and did not appreciate what the colonist did for them. 
Although Franklin was considered an elite member of the community during this time, he
felt that he was just an ordinary citizen. Despite Franklin's prestige, he dressed and
lived simply. Franklin believed that rich intellect was far more value, then having a lot
of money.
In 1762, Franklin returned home from England. When he got home, he had been informed that
he had been elected to the Pennsylvania Legislature. While serving on this legislature he
arranged mail delivery between New York, and Quebec. Franklin also established a
twenty-four hour service between the major cities of Boston, New York, and Philadelphia.
Shortly after the Revolutionary War had begun Franklin was chosen to represent
Philadelphia at the Second Continental Congress. They meet on May 10, 1775, Franklin was
the oldest man who had attended. At this time Franklin was appointed as postmaster of the
colonies. While at these meetings, Franklin presented his Articles of Confederation and
Perpetual Union. This was a plan to unite the thirteen colonies as one national
confederation. This plan was not immediately excepted, but it would later serve as a
model for the first constitution.
On July 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress formed a committee consisting of Ben
Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams. During this time Thomas Jefferson wrote the
first draft with help from Franklin and Adams. On July 4, 1776, Jefferson's final copy
was adopted. This in turn intensified the war with Great Brittain. The Brittish sent out
more and more troops to the colonies. Once again Franklin was called on for help. This
time he was asked to head a clandestine diplomatic mission. Franklin along with two other
men were sent to France to seek help.
Once Franklin Arrived in France he was view as a hero. The French people were on the
American's side. They respected there reasons for fighting the Brittish. Franklin was
able to recruit some French citizens to fight for the colonies. Despite initial
hesitation the French Government decided to give aide to the colonies after the Americans
had won the Battle of Saratogo in 1777. During this time of war Franklin had invented
bifocals to help him overcome his eye sight problems. The war had ended in 1781, and the
Treaty of Paris was signed on 1783. Shortly after this time Franklin sailed home in the
year of 1785.
When Franklin returned home to Pennsylvania he was not well. He was given a hero's
welcome when his ship sailed into the Philadelphia Harbor. In the year 1787 during the
Constitutional Convention Franklin was once again chosen as a delegate from Pennsylvania.
Franklin was the oldest person at this meeting, and although he did not support all of
the aspects of the constitution he did sign it. While still at Independence Hall Franklin
had noticed the president's chair, which had a rising sun painted on it. He had looked at
the chair for a moment, and then said: 
I have often...in the course of this session…looked at that…without
being able to tell whether it was rising or setting; but now at length
I have the happiness to know that it is a rising and not setting sun.
(Franklin 166)
This remark is a perfect way to describe Franklin who was a rising sun well into his
eighties. Benjamin Franklin died on April 17, 1790. On April 21, the day of Franklin's
funeral over twenty thousand people came to say goodbye to a man they all looked up to
and admired. Ben Franklin influenced many people during his life, and still does today.
If it had not been for his intellectual, and scientific abilities our country may have
been a different place than it is today.
Bibliography
Amacher, Richard. Benjamin Franklin. Twayne Publishers, New York. 1962
Franklin, Benjamin..Woolman, John. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. P. F. Collier
& Son Corporation. 1937.
Franklin, Benjamin. The Autobiography and Other Writings. Mead & Company. New York. 1963
Computer Internet. http://sln.fi.edu/franklin/rotten.html. The World of Benjamin
Franklin.