Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin was born on Milk Street in Boston on January 17th, 1706. His father was Josiah Franklin, a candle and soap maker. His mother was Abiah Folger and she was Josiah's second wife. Benjamin Franklin was the youngest son of 17 children. Benjamin attended Boston Latin School for two years but did not graduate because of lack of money; however he continued his education by reading great quantities. His parents wanted him to go into the church, however at age 10 his schooling ended and he worked for his father until he was 12, when he became an apprentice printer for his brother James.

When Benjamin was 15 his brother created the "New England Courant" which was the first independent newspaper in the colonies. Benjamin was not allowed to write for the paper so he invented a pseudonym of Mrs. Silence Dogood, these letter were published and became a subject of conversation around town. When his older brother, James, discovered that these letter belonged to Benjamin he has not happy. Benjamin Franklin left his apprenticeship without permission and became a fugitive. At 17 Franklin ran away to Philadelphia seeking a new start, at his arrival he worked in a few print shops in town. He was the convinced to go to London by Sir William Keith who supposedly wanted to start a new newspaper, however this was untrue. Franklin worked in London as a compositor in a printers shop and then returned to Philadelphia in 1726 with the help of a merchant who gave Franklin a position as clerk, shopkeeper and bookkeeper in his merchant business.

In 1727 at the age of 21 Benjamin created the Junto, this was a group of aspiring artisan and tradesmen who wanted to improve themselves as they improved their community. The members of the Ju...

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...s. He sailed into British waters and had a great fight against the British, eventually two proud British ships surrendered and they were taken to French waters as American prices.

He conducted the affairs of the United States with great success, he was able to secure a military alliance in 1778 and was able to negotiate the Treaty of Paris, and this led to the end of the American Revolutionary war. He remained in Paris until 1785 having accomplished what he was sent there to do.

When Benjamin Franklin returned to America in 1785 his position as the champion of American Independence was second only to George Washington. He is the only founding father who signed all four of the major documents of the founding of the United States; these are the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Paris, the Treaty of Alliance with France and the United States Constitution.