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Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin (January 17 [O.S. January 6] 1706 –
April 17, 1790) was one of the best-known Founding Fathers of the United
States. He was a leading author, political theorist, politician,
printer, scientist, inventor, civic activist, and diplomat. As a
scientist he was a major figure in the history of physics for his
discoveries and theories regarding electricity. As a political writer
and activist he, more than anyone, invented the idea of an American
nation and as a diplomat during the American Revolution, he secured
the French alliance that helped to make independence possible.
Franklin was noted for his curiosity, his writings (popular, political
and scientific), and his diversity of interests. As a leader of the
Enlightenment, he gained the recognition of scientists and intellectuals
across Europe. An agent in London before the Revolution, and Minister to
France during it, he more than anyone defined the new nation in the
minds of Europe. His success in securing French military and financial
aid was a great contributor to the American victory over Britain. He
invented the lightning rod; he was an early proponent of colonial unity;
historians hail him as the "First American."
Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Franklin learned printing from his older
brother and became a newspaper editor, printer, and merchant in
Philadelphia, becoming very wealthy. He spent many years in England and
published the famous Poor Richard's Almanac and the Pennsylvania
Gazette. He formed both the first public lending library and fire
department in America as well as the Junto, a political discussion club.
During this period he wrote in favor of paper money, against
mercantilist policies such as the Iron Act of 1750, and also drafted, in
1754, the Albany Plan of Union, which would have created a continental
legislature; demonstrating how early he conceived of the colonies as
being naturally one political unit.
Franklin became a national hero in America when he spearheaded the
effort to have Parliament repeal the unpopular Stamp Act. An
accomplished diplomat, he was widely admired among the French as
American minister to Paris and was a major figure in the development of
positive Franco-American relations. From 1775 to 1776, Franklin was
Postmaster General under the Continental Congress and from 1785 to 1788
was President of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania. Toward
the end of his life, he became one of the most prominent abolitionists.
Franklin was interested in science and technology, carrying out his
famous electricity experiments and inventing—in addition to the
lightning rod—the Franklin stove, catheter, swim fins, glass harmonica,
and bifocals. He also played a major role in establishing the University
of Pennsylvania and Franklin and Marshall College. He was elected the
first president of the American Philosophical Society, the oldest
learned society in the United States, in 1769. Franklin was fluent in
five languages. He is typically recognized as a polymath.
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Benjamin Franklin Writings
Silence Dogood, The Busy-Body, & Early Writings (J.A. Leo Lemay, ed.)
(Library of America, 1987 one-volume, 2005 two-volume) ISBN 978-1-93108222-8
Autobiography, Poor Richard, & Later Writings (J.A. Leo Lemay, ed.) (Library of
America, 1987 one-volume, 2005 two-volume) ISBN 978-1-88301153-6
Benjamin Franklin Reader edited by Walter Isaacson (2003)
Houston, Alan, ed. Franklin: The Autobiography and other Writings on Politics,
Economics, and Virtue. Cambridge U. Press, 2004. 371 pp.
Ketcham, Ralph, ed. The Political Thought of Benjamin Franklin. (1965, reprinted
2003). 459 pp.
[27] Leonard Labaree, et al., eds., The Papers of Benjamin Franklin, 37 vols. to
date (1959-2006), definitive edition, through 1783. This massive collection of
BF's writings, and letters to him, is available in large academic libraries. It
is most useful for detailed research on specific topics. The complete text of
all the documents are online and searchable; The Index is also online.
"The Way to Wealth." Applewood Books; November 1986. ISBN 0-918222-88-5
"The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin." Dover Pubns; June 7, 1996. ISBN
0-486-29073-5
"Poor Richard's Almanack." Peter Pauper Press; November 1983. ISBN 0-88088-918-7
Poor Richard Improved by Benjamin Franklin (1751)
"Writings." ISBN 0-940450-29-1
"On Marriage."
"Satires and Bagatelles."
"A Dissertation on Liberty and Necessity, Pleasure and Pain."
"Fart Proudly: Writings of Benjamin Franklin You Never Read in School." Carl
Japikse, Ed. Frog Ltd.; Reprint ed. May, 2003. ISBN 1-58394-079-0
"Heroes of America Benjamin Franklin"
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