Benjamin Franklin was born in a house on Milk Street in Boston, Massachusetts, on January 17, 1706. Benjamin was the 15th of seventeen children. As often happened 4 of them died young. Young Ben’s parents weren’t very rich so he had to share a bed with a brother or two. Benjamin was a Sunday Baby, which was a child from the devil. He also was a lefty another believed mark form the devil. Ben got only 2 years of schooling.

He started inventing at age eight. His first invention was for swimmers. He made four round disks that slipped on his hands and feet that helped him swim faster. At ages ten his parents wanted him to get an apprenticeship. He finally got an apprenticeship from his brother at a printing press. Ben wanted some extra money so he could buy books. He asked his brother if he could pay Benjamin’s lodging money directly to him. James said yes. Benjamin could just barely scrape enough money to buy some books.

Benjamin Franklin ran away from his brother because he was beat once to many times. He set up a printing business in Pennsylvania. The governor was impressed with Franklin’s work and offered him if Ben would go to England to buy printing supplies he would pay the bills. 18yr-old Ben arrived in England in 1724 on Christmas Eve. The governor had been all talk, he never sent the money. Benjamin Franklin was stranded 3,000 miles from home. In 1726 he returned to Pennsylvania and started his own newspaper the Pennsylvania Gazette. Ben was editor, printer, and star-reporter. His newspaper was one of the first to draw cartoons. His paper was also one of the first to print a map with an article.

On September 1, 1730 Ben married Debby. They later had 2 children together. Francis Franklin a.k.a. Franky was born in 1732. He died of small pox when he was only 4. Sarah also know as Sally was born in 1743.

In 1732 Benjamin Franklin decided to make his own almanac. He pretended that the author was Richard Saunders. Richard was supposed to be a poor but lovable man. Poor Richard’s Almanac was first issued in 1733. It became the most popular almanac in the colonies. It sold more than 10,000 copies a year. A reason for success was it great sayings. In 1733 the saying: “Great talkers, little doers.” Sayings for 1750 included: “Little strokes fell great oaks.” In 1753 Poor Richard warned: “Haste makes waste.” Many of Poor Richard’s sayings are still popular today.

Benjamin Invented many things. In 1740 he invented the Franklin Stove. It let more heat come into the room instead of up the chimney. In 1784 he invented bifocals. Around 1761 he invented a new instrument. The glass harmonica was played by different sized bowls that made sound when touched by a wet rod.

Benjamin founded the first library. In 1731 he founded the first Library Company of Philadelphia. The members paid dues. The money was spent on books, which members could borrow for free. He also founded Union Fire Company in 1736. It was America’s first volunteer fire department. Philadelphia became one of the world’s most fire-safe cities. He helped found the Philadelphia Academy. Later it became the University of Pennsylvania. The same year he also helped start the Pennsylvania Hospital. It was our countries first general hospital.

Franklin entered politics in 1736. He was chosen clerk of Pennsylvania’s Assembly, or legislative branch. In1762 William was appointed royal governor of New Jersey in August 1762. When England passed the Stamp Act Americans were enraged. Almost over night, Ben became the leading Stamp Act foe. In early 1766, he argued the Stamp Act before Parliament. The Revolutionary War broke out and on May 6, 1775 Ben was asked to serve in the Continental Congress. In 1776 Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson were appointed the job of making the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson did most the writing and Ben the editing. On July 4, 1776 the Declaration of Independence was signed.

For the last couple of years Ben Franklin did not do much. He spent the last two years of his life in bed because of an illness. He listened to his grandchildren recite their lessons. On April 17, 1790 Benjamin Franklin died at the age of eighty-four. Franklin deserves all the praise, from making our world safer to shaping the United States of America.