Benjamin Franklin's Personality

351 Words1 Page

Having emerged from the poverty to create a worldwide known reputation, Benjamin Franklin is the epitome of what it is to be an American and a great leader. Benjamin Franklin was a polymath. He excelled as a political leader, inventor, diplomat, and philanthropist. He helped leading the colonies to develop into a nation and abetted to secure crucial French support for the American Revolution. He signed four of the major founding documents in US history. I decide to imitate his life because he inspired me to always strive to improve myself regardless my circumstances. His honesty, humility, pragmatism way of living, cleverness and eager to improve or master oneself are what enthralled to me follow him. For instance, he used entry gate at his …show more content…

To illustrate the former, the colonies was in a great need to find a powerful European ally in order to defeat the British during the American Revolution war, it was Benjamin Franklin who was able to influenced King Louis XVI and his Foreign Minister, the Compte de Vergennes, to provide the mercenaries, the money and the munitions so vital to the American Revolution. At any rate, he succeeded in many other realms besides politic. He discovered lightning rod, flexible catheter, 24-hour, three-wheel clock, glass armonica, a musical instrument made of spinning glass, bifocals, discovered that electricity existed in storm clouds, in the form of lightning, founded and co-founded America's first circulating library, The Library Company of Philadelphia, America's first volunteer fire department, Union Fire Co, and suggested the concept of daylight savings time. In conclusion, Benjamin Franklin had offered some ideas on the method or philosophy to understand leader development in his story of the speckled ax. He suggested that leadership development requires changing and sustaining. The changing and sustaining efforts are laborious, and more importantly without a sustainment strategy failure is prone. These are ideologies are implied in the mission command

Show More
Related

  • The Americanization Of Benjamin Franklin Book Summary

    701 Words  | 2 Pages

    Gordon S. Wood delves into Benjamin Franklin’s philosophical, political, and personal legacies in the biography, The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin. The book travels through Franklin’s experiments, his travels in Europe, and his role in the American revolution. The book begins when Franklin retires from business and becomes a gentleman. It was when he became a gentleman, it allowed him to analyze the world around him. “Indeed, he could not drink a cup of tea without wondering why the tea leaves at the bottom gathered in way rather than another,” a quote from Edmund S. Morgan’s book, Benjamin Franklin. Franklin spent a great deal of time in Britain before returning to America. When he returned, he threw himself into the American revolution, which sent him to France. After he accomplished his duties in France, he returned back home to America where he ran for public office.

    Read More

  • Ben Franklin

    979 Words  | 2 Pages

    Benjamin Franklin was a remarkably talented man. He started his life as a printers apprentice, but went much farther then there. He developed things that were far more advanced than the time. Benjamin Franklin's stove for example, for cold winter nights, and bifocal lenses for reading. Franklin tracked storms to help understand the horrible weather endured by the colonies. But gis study of electricity made him mist famous and he was known world wide as the founder of the lightning rod. Not only was Benjamin Franklin helpful in developing ideas for better living, he was also a strong force in developing the new nation of America. Benjamin Franklins political views showed him to be a man who loved freedom and independence. His views towards England gradually changed from like to dislike until he finally

    Read More

  • Benjamin Franklin, His Talents and Shortcomings

    877 Words  | 2 Pages

    Franklin also contributed to convincing France to join the revolution with the colonies against Britain. The colonies were in a losing war. Eventually France intervened and helped the colonies by supplying them with firearms and men to assist the defeat of the English. This defeat led to the independence of the United States.

    Read More

  • Autobiography Of Benjamin Franklin Autobiography

    706 Words  | 2 Pages

    Benjamin Franklin is one of the most well-known men on earth! Everyone knows who he is, but not a lot of people have read about him. Mr. Franklin has an Autobiography that was published to us. In pages 411 through 417 of Benjamin Franklin Autobiography there is three topics Benjamin Franklin touches on when writing these five pages of his Autobiography. To begin with the first topic was about a library he opened up, the second topic he spoke about was about how he respects religion but doesn’t like religion controversy, and last but not least he wrote about thirteen virtues.

    Read More

  • The Legacy Of Benjamin Franklin And The Declaration Of Independence

    997 Words  | 2 Pages

    Benjamin Franklin is one of the most profound individuals in American history. He is a Diplomat, Writer, Inventor, a founding father, and holds the title as the “First American.” In 1706 Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston, Massachusetts Bay Colony. He is the fifteenth of seventeen children that his father, Josiah Franklin, had. At the age of 8 years old Franklin attended school, here he learned literacy. In spite of his successes in school, he had to drop out at the young age of 10 to assist his father with his business. Franklin did not enjoy working for his father’s business, however he had to work at his father’s shop for about 2 years. Josiah then had Benjamin apprenticed to his little brother, James, who was a printer. James is the founder

    Read More

  • The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

    1074 Words  | 3 Pages

    In The Autobiography, Benjamin Franklin recounts the many paramount experiences throughout his life that shaped him into great American figure he was known to be. On the opening page, Franklin reveals the book’s epistolary format by writing, “Dear Son,” going on to admit that he’s made some mistakes in the past and to recollect that past is a way to relive it. By divulging his desire to “change some sinister Accidents & Events” (Franklin 3) the author indicates how important it is for his son to observe as he amends his mistakes. Pride, virtue and vanity play a pivotal role in Benjamin Franklin’s life and the way he portrays himself to others. Instances occur where the author is shown gloating about his great accomplishments and he puts emphasis on his need to live a virtuous and morally perfect life. Throughout his story, Benjamin Franklin tells his son of his many virtuous acts and momentous achievements, motivating the question as to whether he seeks his own approval more so than the approval of his peers.

    Read More

  • Benjamin Franklin's Sociable To Many

    200 Words  | 1 Pages

    The next part of the quote is ”sociable to many” This part of the quote is stating, having connection with the people who surround you. Sometimes associating with other people can build up your relationship with others. Benjamin Franklin really analyzed this part of the quote considering in his time when he associated with others he analyzed the thoughts of others and what made there attitude different. “familiar with few” is meaning someone who’s remembered and known good people throughout there life. “friend to one” is saying that there will always be one person who you can count on and who will be able to understand your situations “enemy to none” is something where many people struggle these days, hating others and having rivals. In general

    Read More

  • Personality Of Benjamin Franklin

    1154 Words  | 3 Pages

    Benjamin Franklin is considered to be one of the most well-known Founding Fathers, as he helped in writing the Declaration of Independence and the very first Constitution of the United States. Who was he other than a man who fought for colonist’s rights however? Franklin was a brilliant inventor who created many innovating and life changing mechanisms, such as the world’s very first almanac, bifocals, and the lightning rod. He was also a major figure in the American Enlightenment, which restored art, science and music, spreading moral philosophy all across the colonies. Although he was never elected to the role of President of the United States, Franklin served in several other parts, such as the first postmaster general for the colonies in

    Read More

  • Franklin

    1115 Words  | 3 Pages

    Benjamin Franklin was a very prominent figure in shaping our nation. Many people look at him as a role model or just as an amazing individual. He had his faults just like every human being had, and he shouldn’t be discredited because of a few minor glitches to his character. As being the only person that had signed The Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, and the Treaty of Paris, this immediately separates him from all others. One of the things that he wrote about in Benjamin Franklin: The Autobiography and Other Writings, was trying to be the ideal person, and even made a list of virtues to live by. His virtues were very important to his lifestyle, and he followed them to a great extent.

    Read More

  • Comparing Benjamin Franklin And Poor Richard's Almanack

    1120 Words  | 3 Pages

    Benjamin Franklin is self-righteous and materialistic because he always took his ideas a step further compared to most of his academic peers. Franklin believed that the in bringing these new scientific and philosophical concept to the people, while philosophers were happy to argue with each other about humankind of nature. His leadership was appealed from his intellect and wit. In Poor Richard’s Almanack, Franklin’s aphorisms and sayings were about to make the colonists life that revealed some of the colonists imperfections. Franklin believed that common people had innate freedom and the people had the right to follow their destinies. Benjamin Franklin’s true nature is a man who is worried about society in general along with its treatment of

    Read More

  • The Positive And Negative Aspects Of Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography

    1401 Words  | 3 Pages

    There are many men in American History whose lives helped shape the future of not only this nation, but of the world and one man among them is Benjamin Franklin. Benjamin Franklin is known for his inventions, his philosophies, political influence in the American Revolution and his published writings, including his autobiography. Though he is an important man in history, there are some people who say that as a person, Franklin wasn’t someone to be admired. To determine if Franklin is worthy of admiration, many critics review his autobiography and through it, many aspects of his actions and his personality throughout different experiences in his life.

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Gender In Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography

    1211 Words  | 3 Pages

    Benjamin Franklin has been without a doubt one of the most relevant individuals in US history. His autobiography gives us a brief but detailed summary of what his life was like and how society worked in the eighteen century. This autobiography gives us many details of how the colonies where and offers and an overall image of the development of British North America which later turned into the United States. Due to the fact that this book was originally written for Franklin's son, the book concentrates in personal information and has very little information about other topics. However, there are some topics that can be extracted from his writings; one of them is gender. Even though, Franklin never talks openly about gender, we can observe how in his writing these roles are clearly assigned. In this paper, we will analyze how Benjamin's Franklin autobiography showcases the importance of gender in the early eighteenth century. Gender can be analyzed in Franklins book by looking at different topics. This given to men and women by society can be seen in the workspace, in the education of each individual, and in the family and family structure.

    Read More

  • Information To Those Who Would Remove To America

    902 Words  | 2 Pages

    At a time of hardship and human progression in North America especially in the 1700’s one name specifically shines out amongst all others. That name is Benjamin Franklin; a visionary inventor, politician, and true American hero.

    Read More

  • Benjamin Franklin: An Inspirational Self-Made Man

    1491 Words  | 3 Pages

    Benjamin Franklin's moral and social philosophies inspired and continue to inspire millions around the globe. Becoming a "self-made man" is a long and arduous task. Improve yourself, which will in return improve the society. Contradiction is inevitable when trying to follow strict ideals. Franklin's purpose was to make people aware of their inclinations and to help them overcome the natural tendencies of man, which would limit our dependence on other people. Benjamin Franklin is an inspiration to us all.

    Read More

  • Personal Freedom and Independence: The Works of Benjamin Franklin and Henry David Thoreau

    1787 Words  | 4 Pages

    Benjamin Franklin was a scholar and lexicographer, a representative of the American Enlightenment, ideologist of the national liberation movement. It should be noted that Franklin was one of the most active participants of the struggle of American people for independence. He condemned slavery and ardently defended the rights of American national minorities.

    Read More

More about Benjamin Franklin's Personality

Open Document