Benjamin Franklin (born January 17, 1706, in Boston, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British America) was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, an inventor, scientist, diplomat, and author. Franklin played a pivotal role in the American Enlightenment and the formation of the American nation, contributing in numerous fields including politics, science, and philosophy. He is often considered one of the most versatile and accomplished individuals in American history.
Early Life and Education
- Family: Franklin was born into a modest family. His father, Josiah Franklin, was a soap and candle maker, and his mother, Abiah Folger, came from a family of New England colonists. Benjamin was the 15th of 17 children in his family.
- Education: Franklin’s formal education was limited. He attended school until the age of 10, after which he was largely self-educated. His love for reading and learning was fostered through access to books from his father’s collection and through his own determination to educate himself.
Early Career
- Apprenticeship: At the age of 12, Franklin was apprenticed to his brother James, who was a printer. This apprenticeship introduced him to the world of writing and publishing. At 16, Franklin began writing under the pen name Silence Dogood in his brother’s newspaper, The New-England Courant. His witty and insightful letters earned him a reputation for his writing ability.
- Philadelphia: After a few years, Franklin moved to Philadelphia at the age of 17, where he found work as a printer and eventually started his own printing business. He later became the publisher of The Pennsylvania Gazette, one of the most successful newspapers of its time.
Contributions to Science and Inventions
Franklin was not just a statesman but also a prolific scientist and inventor. His curiosity and innovative thinking led to several groundbreaking discoveries and inventions.
- Electricity: Franklin is perhaps best known for his work with electricity. His famous experiment with a kite and a key in a thunderstorm (1752) demonstrated the electrical nature of lightning and led to the invention of the lightning rod, which helped protect buildings from lightning strikes.
- Inventions: Franklin invented many useful items, including:
- Bifocal glasses: These were designed to help people with both nearsightedness and farsightedness.
- The Franklin stove: A more efficient fireplace that provided better heat output while using less wood.
- The odometer: Used for measuring distance traveled by a vehicle, Franklin invented this device during his time as Postmaster General.
- The glass armonica: A musical instrument created by Franklin that was played by rubbing wet fingers along the rims of glass bowls.
Political and Diplomatic Career
Benjamin Franklin was also deeply involved in the political landscape of colonial America and the early United States. His diplomatic efforts were crucial in securing American independence from Britain.
- Early Political Involvement: Franklin’s political career began in Pennsylvania, where he became active in civic and public life. He served as a member of the Pennsylvania Assembly and later as its representative to the British government in London.
- Revolutionary War: Franklin played a key role in the American Revolution. He was a member of the Second Continental Congress and contributed to drafting the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
- Diplomacy: One of Franklin’s most important roles was as a diplomat in France during the Revolutionary War. As the American envoy to France, Franklin secured vital French support for the American cause. His charm, wit, and diplomatic skills were instrumental in gaining France’s military and financial backing, which proved crucial to the success of the American Revolution.
- Treaty of Paris (1783): Franklin was one of the negotiators of the Treaty of Paris that ended the Revolutionary War and recognized the United States’ independence from Britain.
The U.S. Constitution
After the American Revolution, Franklin continued to play a role in shaping the new nation. In 1787, at the age of 81, he attended the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. Franklin was a strong advocate for the new Constitution, and although he was one of the oldest delegates, his wisdom and experience were highly valued. His final public act was his signing of the U.S. Constitution in 1787.
Benjamin Franklin’s Intellectual and Philosophical Contributions
Franklin was deeply influenced by the Age of Enlightenment, a period in the 17th and 18th centuries that emphasized reason, science, and individualism. Franklin was an advocate for intellectual and social progress, and his work reflects his belief in human potential, science, and civic duty.
- Virtue and Self-Improvement: Franklin is well-known for his focus on personal improvement and virtue. In his autobiography, he lists 13 virtues that he sought to cultivate in his life, such as temperance, silence, order, and humility. He believed that cultivating these virtues was essential for personal growth and civic responsibility. His emphasis on self-discipline, learning, and progress shaped the values of the American Enlightenment.
- Deism: Franklin was a deist, meaning he believed in a rational, non-interventionist creator rather than the traditional Christian conception of a personal god. He embraced reason and natural law, and although he was not strictly religious, his values of morality and ethics were deeply influenced by deist thought. Franklin’s deistic views were aligned with the thinking of other Enlightenment philosophers, such as Thomas Paine and Voltaire.
Benjamin Franklin as a Publisher and Writer
Franklin’s publishing career was extensive, and he made a major impact on the literary and intellectual landscape of colonial America.
- The Pennsylvania Gazette: In 1728, Franklin purchased a printing press and took over The Pennsylvania Gazette. It became one of the most successful and influential newspapers in colonial America. Franklin used the newspaper to publish many of his own writings, political commentary, and essays.
- Poor Richard’s Almanack: His annual publication, Poor Richard’s Almanack, was one of his most famous works. It was filled with witty proverbs, weather forecasts, and advice on life. Some of the most famous aphorisms from the almanac include “A penny saved is a penny earned” and “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” These sayings reflected Franklin’s pragmatic approach to life and continue to resonate today.
- Essays and Letters: Franklin wrote numerous essays, letters, and pamphlets on a variety of subjects including politics, science, education, and ethics. His “What is an American?” essay in 1782 was especially influential in shaping American national identity, articulating the idea of America as a melting pot of different cultures and backgrounds.
Benjamin Franklin’s Role in the American Revolution
- Early Political Involvement: Franklin’s political career in America began in the 1730s when he became active in local politics in Philadelphia. He served as a representative of Pennsylvania in the colonial assembly, and later, as the colony’s Postmaster General. During this time, he worked to improve public infrastructure and support civic institutions like libraries, schools, and fire departments.
- Colonial Unity: Franklin played a key role in encouraging colonial unity. In 1754, he proposed the Albany Plan of Union, which called for a unified government for the colonies, especially in response to the French and Indian War. Though the plan was not adopted, it laid the groundwork for future discussions on American unity.
- Declaration of Independence: Franklin was one of the five men tasked with drafting the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Alongside Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston, Franklin played a key role in shaping the document, which declared the colonies’ independence from Britain.
- Diplomatic Efforts in France: Franklin’s diplomatic efforts during the American Revolution were critical to the success of the war. As the U.S. Ambassador to France, he gained the trust of the French court and was instrumental in securing French military and financial aid. The French alliance played a pivotal role in the American victory at the Battle of Yorktown in 1781.
- Treaty of Paris: In 1783, Franklin was one of the primary negotiators of the Treaty of Paris, which officially ended the Revolutionary War. The treaty recognized American independence and set the boundaries for the new nation, solidifying Franklin’s legacy as one of the key figures in the founding of the United States.
Franklin’s Work with Native Americans
- Native American Relations: Franklin was involved in the political and diplomatic relations between the early American colonies and Native American tribes. He advocated for fair treatment of Native Americans and played a role in several peace treaties. Franklin’s work with Native American diplomacy helped to establish the Treaty of Easton in 1758, which ended hostilities between the Pennsylvania colony and the Delaware and Shawnee tribes.
Benjamin Franklin’s Legacy in Education
- Founding of Institutions: Franklin was a firm believer in education and learning. His commitment to education led to the founding of the University of Pennsylvania in 1740, which was the first nonsectarian university in America. Franklin believed that education should be practical and that institutions should offer curricula that taught useful skills in addition to classical knowledge.
- Public Libraries: Franklin was also instrumental in establishing the first public library in America. In 1731, he founded the Library Company of Philadelphia, which was open to the public and allowed people to borrow books. This organization played an important role in fostering intellectual exchange and the spread of knowledge.
Benjamin Franklin’s Influence on Modern Society
Franklin’s impact extends far beyond his time. His writings and actions continue to influence American politics, philosophy, and society.
- Advocate of Republicanism: Franklin was a strong supporter of republicanism, which emphasized the role of the people in government. He opposed monarchy and aristocracy and believed in the principles of democracy, citizenship, and personal responsibility.
- Founding Father: Along with Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and John Adams, Franklin is considered one of the most important Founding Fathers of the United States. His contributions in writing, diplomacy, science, and government helped shape the nation’s early identity.
- Global Influence: Franklin’s impact extended internationally, particularly in Europe. He was widely admired in France for his scientific achievements, and his political ideas influenced revolutionary movements, including the French Revolution and the Latin American independence movements.
Philosophy and Writings
Franklin’s writings were widely read and respected, and he contributed to the shaping of American thought. Some of his notable works include:
- Poor Richard’s Almanack: Published annually from 1732 to 1758, this work contained a mix of aphorisms, advice, and information. The famous phrase “Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise” is one of Franklin’s well-known sayings from this work.
- Autobiography: Franklin’s autobiography, written in the latter part of his life, is one of the most important and enduring documents in American literature. It details his early life, his rise to success, and his thoughts on virtue, self-improvement, and public service.
Franklin also founded the Junto, a group of young men in Philadelphia who met regularly to discuss moral, political, and philosophical topics. He was also a founder of the American Philosophical Society, which promoted intellectual exchange.
Personal Life and Family
- Marriage: Franklin married Deborah Read in 1730. They had two children together, a son named Francis (who died young) and a daughter named Sarah. Franklin had a complicated personal life, and there were rumors of other relationships, but Deborah was his lifelong companion.
- Family: Franklin’s son, William Franklin, was a loyalist during the Revolutionary War and was a source of family tension. William was a strong supporter of the British Crown, and their differing political allegiances created a rift between father and son.
Death and Legacy
- Death: Franklin passed away on April 17, 1790, at the age of 84 in Philadelphia. His death was mourned deeply across the United States and Europe. He was eulogized as one of the greatest Americans of his time and is remembered for his vast contributions to society.
- Legacy: Franklin is remembered as a polymath who embodied the ideals of the Enlightenment. His legacy extends across various fields:
- Politics: As a founding father, he played a major role in shaping the political foundations of the United States.
- Science and Inventions: Franklin’s innovations and scientific discoveries had lasting impacts, especially in the fields of electricity and physics.
- Philosophy and Literature: Franklin’s writings continue to influence American thought and culture.
Conclusion
Benjamin Franklin remains one of the most dynamic and influential figures in American history. His contributions as a scientist, diplomat, writer, inventor, and political thinker laid the foundation for the United States as a nation grounded in reason, liberty, and opportunity. From his work in establishing American independence to his innovations in science and philosophy, Franklin’s impact on the modern world is immense and enduring. His ability to bridge science and politics, his commitment to public service, and his belief in personal improvement continue to inspire people around the world. Franklin’s legacy stands as a testament to the power of curiosity, creativity, and public service in shaping a better world.
