Benjamin Franklin

Lore & Background

Franklin was born on Milk Street in Boston, Province of Massachusetts Bay, on January 17, 1706, and baptized at the Old South Meeting House in Boston. As a child, he recalled that he was "generally the leader among the boys." His father wanted him 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. At 12 he became an apprentice to his brother James, a printer. When Benjamin was 15, James founded The New-England Courant. When denied the chance to write a letter to the paper for publication, Franklin adopted the pseudonym of "Silence Dogood," a middle-aged widow. Mrs. Dogood's letters were published and became a subject of conversation around town. Franklin left his apprenticeship without his brother's permission, becoming a fugitive. At age 17, Franklin ran away to Philadelphia. After a few months, Pennsylvania governor Sir William Keith convinced him to go to London, ostensibly to acquire equipment for establishing another newspaper. Discovering Keith's promises were empty, he worked as a typesetter in a printer's shop in what is today the Lady Chapel of Church of St Bartholomew-the-Great in London. He returned to Philadelphia in 1726 with the help of Thomas Denham. In 1727, at age 21, Franklin formed the Junto, a group of "like minded aspiring artisans and tradesmen who hoped to improve themselves while they improved their community." He conceived the idea of a subscription library, whose charter he composed in 1731, which became the Library Company of Philadelphia. Upon Denham's death, Franklin returned to his former trade. In 1728, he set up a printing house in partnership with Hugh Meredith; the following year he became the publisher of The Pennsylvania Gazette. In 1732, he published the first German-language newspaper in America – Die Philadelphische Zeitung – although it failed after only one year. He became wealthy publishing The Pennsylvania Gazette and Poor Richard's Almanack. After 1767, he was associated with the Pennsylvania Chronicle, a newspaper known for its revolutionary sentiments and criticisms of the British Parliament and the Crown. He was appointed deputy postmaster-general for the British colonies in 1753. As an agent in London for several colonies, he spearheaded the repeal of the unpopular Stamp Act. He served as the first U.S. ambassador to France and was a major figure in the development of positive Franco–American relations, proving vital in securing French aid for the American Revolution. From 1785 to 1788, he served as President of Pennsylvania. From at least as early as 1735 through the following decades, Franklin owned at least seven slaves and ran "for sale" ads for slaves in his newspaper, but by the late 1750s, he had begun arguing against slavery, became an active abolitionist, and promoted the education and integration of African Americans into U.S. society.

Reader's Guide

Benjamin Franklin's significance lies in his multifaceted contributions. He was the only person to sign the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Paris peace with Britain, and the Constitution. As a scientist, his studies of electricity made him a major figure in the American Enlightenment and the history of physics. He also charted and named the Gulf Stream current. His numerous important inventions include the lightning rod, bifocals, glass harmonica and the Franklin stove. He founded many civic organizations, including the Library Company, the University of Pennsylvania, and Philadelphia's first fire department. Franklin earned the title of "The First American" for his early and indefatigable campaigning for colonial unity. He has been called "the most accomplished American of his age and the most influential in inventing the type of society America would become." His life and legacy have seen him honored for more than two centuries after his death on the $100 bill and in the names of many towns and counties, educational institutions and corporations, as well as in numerous cultural references and a portrait in the Oval Office. His more than 30,000 letters and documents have been collected in The Papers of Benjamin Franklin.

Did You Know?

• Franklin wrote under the pseudonym 'Silence Dogood,' a middle-aged widow, for his brother's newspaper The New-England Courant when he was 15.
• He published the first German-language newspaper in America, Die Philadelphische Zeitung, in 1732, though it failed after one year.
• Franklin was the only person to sign the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Paris peace with Britain, and the Constitution.
• He owned at least seven slaves and ran 'for sale' ads for slaves in his newspaper from at least as early as 1735, but by the late 1750s he had begun arguing against slavery and became an active abolitionist.
• Franklin's more than 30,000 letters and documents have been collected in The Papers of Benjamin Franklin.

Common Misconceptions (Editorial)

1. While Franklin is widely remembered for his later abolitionist views, some people assume he never owned slaves. In fact, he owned at least seven slaves and ran "for sale" ads for them in his newspaper as late as the 1730s, though he began arguing against slavery by the late 1750s.

2. Many people think Franklin was primarily a scientist and inventor, but his early and sustained career was as a printer and newspaper editor—he was publishing *The Pennsylvania Gazette* by age 23 and became wealthy through printing.

Why It Matters (Editorial)

Franklin matters because his life embodies the restless curiosity and self-invention that defined the American Enlightenment. He was not just a Founding Father but a working printer, a diplomat who secured French aid for the Revolution, and a figure who evolved from a slaveholder to an outspoken abolitionist—showing that even iconic figures can change their views. His enduring relevance lies in how he balanced practical ingenuity with civic responsibility, a model that continues to inspire.

Notable Quotes (Wikiquote)

"If all printers were determined not to print anything till they were sure it would offend nobody, there would be very little printed." — Benjamin Franklin "Ambition has its disappointments to sour us, but never the good fortune to satisfy us." — Benjamin Franklin "On True Happiness", Pennsylvania Gazette (20 November 1735)." — Benjamin Franklin "If you would keep your Secret from an enemy, tell it not to a friend.Up, Sluggard, and waste not life; in the grave will be sleeping enough." — Benjamin Franklin