• The Amazing Benjamin Franklin
    Benjamin Franklin is an amazing historical figure. Read on to discover cool facts and interesting tidbits about one of the most incredible men in American history.
     
    Facts about Benjamin Franklin
    • He was born on January 17, 1706 to Josiah Franklin and Abiah Folger. Benjamin was Josiah’s fifteenth child. The place of his birth was Milk Street, Boston.
    • His mother wanted him to attend school with the clergy. Due to financial problems, Benjamin could continue schooling only for two years.
    • Benjamin Franklin founded the Union Fire Company, a fire-fighting company of America. He presided The Academy and College of Philadelphia. He served as the Justice of Peace for Philadelphia.
    • He was appointed as the deputy postmaster-general of North America, where he was instrumental in bringing reforms to the postal system.
    • He was the head of the Pennsylvania delegation to the Albany Congress in 1754. Benjamin Franklin was active in the Pontiac’ s rebellion and in the opposition of the 1765 Stamp Act in London.
    • He was one of the authors of The Declaration of Independence.
    • Franklin was a key player in the American Enlightenment, which was a part of the great intellectual movement called the ‘Age of Enlightenment’.
    • Benjamin Franklin passed away on 17th April, 1790. His autobiography that was published after his death is a classic.
    • The musical aspect of his personality is revealed in his skills of playing guitar, harp and violin. He invented the glass harmonica.
    • Harvard and Yale Universities awarded him the honorary degrees. In 1762, Oxford University honored him with a doctorate.
    • Some of his  inventions include, lightning rod, Franklin’s stove, and bifocal glasses. He did not like patenting inventions. He thought that his inventions gave him an opportunity to serve society.
    Ben's Quotes ~
    What's your favorite?
     
    A penny saved is a penny earned.

    A place for everything, everything in its place.

    Be slow in choosing a friend, slower in changing.

    Content makes poor men rich; discontentment makes rich men poor.

    Educate your children to self-control, to the habit of holding passion and prejudice and evil tendencies subject to an upright and reasoning will, and you have done much to abolish misery from their future and crimes from society.

    If you desire many things, many things will seem few.

    He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.

    Glass, china, and reputation are easily cracked, and never well mended.

    An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.
     
    All mankind is divided into three classes: those that are immovable, those that are movable, and those that move.
     
    The following links will give you more information about the amazing Ben Franklin:
     
     
    PBS' Benjamin Franklin: http://www.pbs.org/benfranklin/
     
     
     
     
     
Last Modified on September 18, 2018