Ben Franklin Facts

Ben Franklin is a famous inventor, who is also one of the founding fathers of our country.

Franklin is sometimes referred to as the “First American” thanks to all of his contributions in getting our country started. Read our facts on Ben Franklin and be sure to take our quiz at the end!

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Early Life

Ben Franklin was born in Boston, Massachusetts on January 17, 1706. He was the youngest of 16 children.

Ben’s father was a chandler, which is someone who makes candles and soap.

When Ben was young, he did not have much in the way of formal education. In fact, at the age of 10, he was forced to leave school to work for his father.

Thankfully for Ben, he loved to read, so even though he didn’t go to school, he was able to become quite knowledgeable about a variety of subjects.

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When Franklin was 17, he ran away from Boston. He traveled to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to work as a printer.

Career

After running away to Philadelphia, Franklin worked several years there and in London.

In 1729, he began publishing a newspaper called the Pennsylvania Gazette. This allowed him to become a prominent voice in Pennsylvania politics.

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It also helped his reputation to grow through the American Colonies.

During this time, he was often sent to London to act as a representative for the Colonies. He used this role to protest various taxes and acts passed by Congress.

When the Revolutionary War approached, Franklin was still living in London.

He came back to the Colonies and suggested that representatives get together for a Congress in 1774.

After the Revolutionary War began, Franklin was elected to the Second Continental Congress in 1775.

He played an important part in helping to write the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

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In 1776, Franklin moved to France as an ambassador. He helped secure France’s alliance during the Revolution, which was an important factor in America’s victory.

He stayed in France for the duration of the War and helped to end the Revolutionary War with the Treaty of Paris.

Scientific Contributions

To go along with being a prolific writer and statesmen, Ben Franklin was also a prominent scientist and inventor.

Perhaps Franklin is most well-known for his experiments with electricity. He did lots of different experiments to prove that lightning was, in fact, electricity.

This led to his invention of the lightning rod, which helped to prevent homes from being set on fire from lightning strikes.

Other Inventions

He invented bifocals, which are a kind of glasses. He did this because he was tired of having to have two different pairs of glasses to see things close up and far away.

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Franklin also invented a stove, an odometer, and the glass harmonica.

Franklin was the first to start a lending library in America and established the first fire department of Pennsylvania.

 Personal Life

Benjamin Franklin married his childhood sweetheart, Deborah Read, in 1730, who he had met when he moved to Philadelphia.

Around this time, Franklin also fathered a son named William out of wedlock, who the couple took in.

Ben and Deborah had two children. Their son, Francis, died of smallpox when he was 4. They named their daughter Sarah.

Deborah died in 1774, while Ben was away on business in London.

Famous Quotes

“Three may keep a secret if two of them are dead.” 

“Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.” 

“Tell me, and I forget, teach me, and I may remember, involve me, and I learn.” 

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“You may delay, but time will not.”

“Many people die at twenty-five and aren’t buried until they are seventy-five.” 

“Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are.”

Later Life and Death

Franklin continued to work and invent all the way up till his death.

Ben Franklin lived to be 84 years old. He died on April 17, 1790.

Interesting Facts about Ben Franklin

  • Franklin was the first Postmaster General of the United States.
  • Though he did own slaves during his lifetime, he set them free later in life and became a champion for the freedom of slaves.
  • He didn’t patent most of his inventions. He liked to let people use his ideas for free.
  • He loved playing Chess and was actually inducted into the US Chess Hall of Fame in 1999.

More Famous Scientists.

Quiz Time!

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