He stood before five kings in his lifetime (benjamin-franklin-history.org). As a pioneer in the sport of swimming, he was posthumously inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame (ishof.org). He served as the first American ambassador to a foreign country (benjamin-franklin-history.org). Although these may seem like random facts about different people, they are all things one person has accomplished. Only the varied, eclectic personality of Benjamin Franklin could have achieved so much in one lifetime. Just as the Enlightenment influenced him, he influenced American society through his inventions and public service. His legacy is still felt today. Benjamin Franklin was a product of his time, meaning the culture and society around …show more content…
For example, He founded the first formally organized all volunteer fire department. Called the Union Fire Company, it protected all of Philadelphia rather than only its members, a feature that set it apart from previous volunteer fire companies (Benjamin-franklin-history.org). Later in life, he founded the first American hospital along with Dr. Thomas Bond. By 1750, the population of Philadelphia had grown to 15,000 people, most of who were without accessible or organized healthcare. Dr. Bond saw the need and approached his friend Benjamin Franklin to help raise funds for the new hospital, to which Franklin agreed (benjamin-franklin-history.org). In addition to the new hospital, he also established the first lending library. In early Philadelphia, books were valuable commodities because one had to travel to Boston or New York to purchase them. Franklin’s goal in starting a lending library was to benefit common folk who would not typically have access to books. It started with fifty subscribers who paid a membership fee of forty shillings and an annual fee of ten shillings, which contributed to the purchase of new books to increase the library’s collection. (Concluding sentence
Franklin’s accomplishments arose from the influence of family, friends, education, and personal experience with being African American. He had a difficult task as an historian as he was writing about the neglected history of his minority group while being an advocate for the rights of this group. This could be perceived as a conflict of interest, but he thought of it as being beneficial. His method of writing was not to promote African Americans, but to interpret their involvement in the framework of American history. This was not something that had been done extensively and thoroughly before. Franklin set the stage and helped to create a widely accepted field of history.
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
Franklin moved from Boston to Philadelphia in search of a better place to stay and for his exploration. He is known for going “from rags to riches” from achieving many jobs and contributing to the colonies as a way to give back to the community. He became the first person to open a public library in Philadelphia in hopes of helping more people to educate themselves. Later, he established a fire company, developed a hospital and many useful things that are still with us today. Also, established the University of Pennsylvania and reformed the police department by taxing the community and having steady law enforcement.
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
Benjamin Franklin is considered one of the greatest thinkers, inventors and leaders throughout American history. This Founding Father of the United States was born in Boston, Massachusetts on January 17, 1706 and spent his childhood there until finally moving to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as a teenager. Franklin was a leader in politics and science. Franklin lived for 84 years and passed away in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1790. Although conspiracy theorists may disagree, Franklin was not clearly for or against organized religion during his lifetime. We see this in his autobiography that he wrote at the age of 79.
He played a major role in establishing the University of Pennsylvania and was elected the first president of the American Philosophical Society. Franklin became a national hero in America when as agent for several colonies he spearheaded the effort to have Parliament in London 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. His efforts to secure support for the American Revolution by shipments of crucial munitions proved vital for the American war effort.
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
Franklin also played the harp, violin, and guitar which expresses his great love for music and his love for learning. Benjamin cared that young people got a good education; he thought that "education today is leadership and success of tomorrow." He thought that it was important to have a love of reading and founded the first public library in America in 1731: the Philadelphia Library. In 1732, Franklin published Poor Richard's Almanac with the pen name 'Richard Saunders.' In 1749, he wrote Proposals Relating to the Education of Youth in Pennsylvania. In 1751, he established Philadelphia Academy, later known as Univer...
One of the most inspirational, inventive and amazing poets in the world is Benjamin Franklin. He was born at Boston on January 17, 1706, and educated at Harvard University. Many of his experiences in his early life made a huge impact in his writing and literature. An example would be he used to work in his brother’s Printer shop where he published newspapers and articles. During his time there, he learned how to write and read. As he worked at the Print Shop he discovered how beautiful poetry was, and how easy it was to start learning. The shop was runned by his brother, James, who took in Franklin as an apprentice. “His first enthusiasm was poetry [after all]”. Franklin would sneak his work under the door with an anonymous name like “Silence
Benjamin Franklin was one of the most profound and influential leaders of his time. Excelling in fields anywhere from philosophy to agriculture, Franklin was truly one who had “something important to add to the store of the world’s knowledge; and he did it with zest, charm, and a gift for the clear view” (Cousins 16). Franklin had a great passion for reading, in fact, he considered it as one of his only amusements, and evidently,
Benjamin Franklin completed many accomplishments from childhood to adulthood. When he was just 22 he established his first printing business with a partner, Hugh Meredith. Benjamin soon bought out Hugh Meredith's share. In 1732, when Franklin was only 26 he published the first edition of 'Poor Richards Almanack,' the book shows evidence that it was successful for 25 years. 'Poor Richards Almanack' allowed Franklin to retire from business a rich man in 1748. In 1741 Benjamin Franklin invented the Franklin Stove. The stove was handy for both, heating a room or cooking. In 1752 Benjamin Franklin conducted his famous electricity experiment with a kite. In 1757 Franklin returned to England as a Colonial agent for Pennsylvania. Next, in the year of 171 Benjamin began to write his own autobiography. In 1775 as a member of the Continental Congress, Franklin advocated separation from England. In 1776 Franklin helped draft the Declaration of Independence, in the fall he goes to France to plead the American cause. In 1778, Benjamin arranged the American Alliance with France, which soon led...
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.
Esmund Wright, author of Franklin of Philadelphia, suggests that perhaps his greatest contribution, was his effort to solicit assistance from France during the American Revolution, he said: "Franklin obtained at least 45 million francs of loans and gifts; some estimates go higher: Jonathan Dull puts the figure at 80 million dollars in today's terms. Without this, America might not have been able to maintain her independence after 1778. All the financial aid from 1776 to 1781 came by and through France; 90 percent of the power used by Americans in the first two and a half years of war came from France.
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.
Ever since he was a young boy Franklin always helped people. Franklin was also a man of discipline and believed that in order to get better at something one must be disciplined. Although he did not have much education, he knew that it was important in order to further himself in any career. He went to school for a bit and was eventually pulled.