Franklin: A Revolutionary Man
By: Dylan D.
Early Life
Benjamin Franklin was born on Milk Street in Boston, on January 17, 1706. He was one of many children born to Josiah Franklin with his second wife Abiah Folger. Among Benjamin's siblings were his older brother James and his younger sister Jane.
Josiah wanted Ben to attend school with the clergy, but only had enough money to send him to school for two years. He attended Boston Latin School but did not graduate; he continued his education through voracious reading. His parents wanted him to become a priest, but he stopped going to school at the age of ten.
Now, what did he do?
He was a printer, writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, civic leader, and a diplomat.
“As a scientist, he is best known for his experiments with electricity. As a writer, he is most famous for Poor Richard's Almanack.
Benjamin Franklin was the only person to sign the three documents that established the United States: the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Paris, and the Constitution.
Franklin established the pseudonym of Silence Dogood. She was supposed to be a middle-aged widow with some funny and intelligent things to say. People were very surprised to find out that this was actually Benjamin Franklin.
He used this pseudonym to write anonymously to the New England Courant about his ideas and expressions about politics and current events.
Quotes
-Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.
-An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.
-Money has never made man happy, nor will it, there is nothing in its nature to produce happiness. The more of it one has the more one wants.