One Of The Leading Figures Of Early American History Essay

Submitted By tetrabros30
Words: 1482
Pages: 6
Open Document
One of the leading figures of early American history, Benjamin Franklin (1706-90) was a statesman, author, publisher, scientist, inventor and diplomat. Born into a Boston family of modest means, Franklin had little formal education. He went on to start a successful printing business in Philadelphia and grew wealthy. Franklin was deeply active in public affairs in his adopted city, where he helped launch alending library, hospital and college, and garnered acclaim for his experiments with electricity, among other projects. During the American Revolution, he served in the Second Continental Congress and helped draft the Declaration of Independence in 1776. He also negotiated the 1783 Treaty of Paris that ended theRevolutionary War (1775-83). In 1787, in his final significant act of public service, he was a delegate to the convention that produced the U.S. Constitution.
Benjamin Franklin was born on January 17, 1706, in colonial Boston. His father, Josiah Franklin (1657-1745), a native of England, was a candle and soap maker who married twice and had 17 children. Franklin’s mother was Abiah Folger (1667-1752) of Nantucket, Massachusetts, Josiah’s second wife. Franklin was the eighth of Abiah and Josiah’s 10 offspring.
Did You Know?
Benjamin Franklin is the only founding father to have signed all four of the key documents establishing the U.S.: the Declaration of Independence (1776), the Treaty of Alliance with France (1778), the Treaty of Paris establishing peace with Great Britain (1783) and the U.S. Constitution (1787).
Franklin’s formal education was limited and ended when he was 10; however, he was an avid reader and taught himself to become a skilled writer. In 1718, at age 12, he was apprenticed to his older brother James, a Boston printer. By age 16, Franklin was contributing essays (under the pseudonym Silence Dogood) to a newspaper published by his brother. At age 17, Franklin ran away from his apprenticeship to Philadelphia, where he found work as a printer. In late 1724, he traveled to London, England, and again found employment in theprinting business.
Benjamin Franklin returned to Philadelphia in 1726, and two years later opened aprinting shop. The business became highly successful producing a range of materials, including government pamphlets, books and currency. In 1729, Franklin became the owner and publisher of a colonial newspaper, thePennsylvania Gazette, which proved popular–and to which he contributed much of the content, often using pseudonyms. Franklin achieved fame and further financial success with “Poor Richard’s Almanack,” which he published every year from 1733 to 1758. The almanac became known for its witty sayings, which often had to do with the importance of diligence and frugality,” such as “Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.”
In 1730, Franklin began living with Deborah Read (c. 1705-74), the daughter of his former Philadelphia landlady, as his common-law wife. Read’s first husband had abandoned her; however, due to bigamy laws, she and Franklin could not have an official wedding ceremony. Franklin and Read had a son, Francis (1732-36), who died of smallpox at age 4, and a daughter, Sarah (1743-1808). Franklin had another son, William (c. 1730-1813), who was born out of wedlock. William Franklin served as the last colonial governor of New Jersey, from 1763 to 1776, and remained loyal to the British during the American Revolution. He died in exile in England.
As Franklin’s printing business prospered, he became increasingly involved in civic affairs. Starting in the 1730s, he helped establish a number of community organizations in Philadelphia, including a lending library (it was founded in 1731, a time when books weren’t widely available in the colonies, and remained the largest U.S. public library until the 1850s), the city’s first fire company, a police patrol and the American Philosophical Society, a group devoted to the sciences and other scholarly
Show More

Related Documents: One Of The Leading Figures Of Early American History Essay

Christopher Columbus Research Paper

Christopher Columbus is one of the most controversial figures in history. To some, he was a hero, a pioneer who paved the way for European exploration of the Americas. To others, he is a villain, responsible for the colonization, exploitation, and destruction of indigenous peoples. Despite the mixed opinions, there is no denying that Columbus is one of the most influential figures in history. In order to understand Columbus's influence, it is important to first consider the historical context in…

Words 509 - Pages 3

Essay on Communion of Immigrants

New Country The early history of America and its foundation of republicanism is widely taught and highlighted in early elementary and junior high education but little is mentioned about the underlying religious nature of these early immigrants. Communion of Immigrants, by James T. Fisher, brings forth the extreme importance of this religious dichotomy and attempts to unwrap some of the more important events brought forth by Catholic immigrants and their mark on our current American ideals. With the…

Words 1253 - Pages 6

History of Psychology Essay examples

History of Psychology Rebecca Howard PSY/310 September 23, 2013 Ann Becher-Ingwalson Abstract Psychology was born from the ideas of early philosophers such as Plato. These philosophers paved the way for future philosophers and psychologists. The early ideas were built upon to create a science to explain mental processes and behavior. The field of psychology underwent many important changes during the 19th century, including the first psychological laboratories in Germany and in the United…

Words 1001 - Pages 5

What Was Abraham Lincoln Legacy

Abraham Lincoln: The Legacy of an American Icon. Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, is a towering figure in American history. Born in a log cabin in Hardin County, Kentucky, on February 12, 1809, Lincoln rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most revered leaders in the nation's history. His presidency, marked by the Civil War and the abolition of slavery, left an indelible mark on the American consciousness. In this essay, we will delve into the life, leadership…

Words 723 - Pages 3

George Washington's Influence On American History

In American history you learn about how many individuals have influenced the structure and image of our nation. George Washington was one of those successful major individual who has influenced and outlined the success of America. The importance of George Washington is through his expedition to survey the western land, early military career, and reaction to the coming revolution before his presidency. These defining moments outlined the success of American history. Surveys along Virginia's western…

Words 721 - Pages 3

Guilty or Not Guilty I Don't Remember Essay example

Guilty or Not Guilty: I Don’t Remember Michael Trahan Intro/American Government II POLS 2302-09 James Nelson February 26, 2014 Who do you want deciding Supreme Court Cases? The forefathers of the U.S. Constitution, under great deliberation, created the foundation for which the country would be governed. Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution reads “[the President] shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint … Judges of the supreme…

Words 1635 - Pages 7

Dwight D. Eisenhower Research Paper

A Profile in Leadership: Dwight D. Eisenhower As one of the most admired and cherished military officers and political figures in American history, Dwight D. Eisenhower left his mark of solid character and strong leadership on the legacy of the United States. Born in the late 1800s, Eisenhower grew up humble, served during WWII, achieving the rank of 5-star general, and was Commander in chief the years after WWII. Throughout his personal and career life, Eisenhower emulated the qualities of a great…

Words 576 - Pages 3

The Roaring 20 s Essay

other major cities during a period of sustained economic prosperity. Prohibition  is the legal act of prohibiting the manufacture, storage, transportation and sale of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the prohibition of alcohol was enforced. Marcus Garvey  was a Jamaican political leader, publisher, journalist, entrepreneur, and orator who was a staunch proponent of the Black nationalism and Pan-Africanism movements…

Words 2337 - Pages 10

Impeachment Of Andrew Johnson Analysis

349-67. Web. According to osu.edu, Michael Les Benedict is a highly regarded author on the topics of American constitutional and legal history, and has published over 40 books and essays on the Civil War and Reconstruction. After receiving his doctorate from Rice University, Benedict served as a professor at Ohio State University for 30 years, and currently serves as the Parliamentarian of the American Historical Association. In his essay, A New Look at the Impeachment of Andrew Johnson, Benedict argues…

Words 1141 - Pages 5

Discrimination: Christopher Columbus and Howard Zinn Essay

will be an ongoing debate for centuries. People all across the nation tend to always focus on the good and disregard the bad. According to A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn and personal letters written by Columbus himself, Christopher Columbus main motivation was gold and anything that got in his way was to be defeated. His early encounters with the Arawak Indians showed his incentive to acquire money and the cruel behavior that was given to the Arawaks. Columbus completely took…

Words 1156 - Pages 5