Quick biography of benjamin franklin

He was the President of the Academy and College of Philadelphia. Later he became a councilman, a Justice of the Peace, later a representative of the city. He also started one of the first public libraries in Philadelphia. He was for many years the postmaster of Philadelphia, and in became Postmaster General of the Thirteen Colonies. In he went to live in London as agent for Pennsylvania and later for other colonies.

He was in the Continental Congresswhich led the country during the Revolutionary War, and he helped write the United States Declaration of Independence. He controlled the postal service as Postmaster General. As ambassador to France he helped persuade the French to join the war against Great Britain. He helped negotiate the peace, too.

Later, he was part of the group that made the Constitution of the United States. Franklin called himself a printer, but is quick biography of benjamin franklin known for his writings. Among some of the more well known are Poor Richard's Almanack, and the Pennsylvanian. Franklin was a scientist who studied experiments in an effort to improve or correct them.

One of his greatest contributions was in the theory of electricity through the Leyden jar. Most people see Franklin as one of history 's greatest inventors. For example, he invented the lightning rod and bifocalsthe Franklin stove, and the glass harmonica. Franklin died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from pleurisyApril 17, aged Benjamin Franklin owned slaves and printed ads to help slavers find runaway slaves in his newspaper.

But he still made a lot of money from slavery. The city of PhiladelphiaPennsylvania where he lived marked his three hundredth birthday in Many streets and a few towns are named for him. William Franklin served as the last colonial governor of New Jerseyfrom toand remained loyal to the British during the American Revolution. He died in exile in England.

Franklin also organized the Pennsylvania militia, raised funds to build a city hospital and spearheaded a program to pave and light city streets. Additionally, Franklin was instrumental in the creation of the Academy of Philadelphia, a college which opened in and became known as the University of Pennsylvania in Franklin also was a key figure in the colonial postal system.

Inthe British appointed him postmaster of Philadelphia, and he went on to become, injoint postmaster general for all the American colonies. In this role he instituted various measures to improve mail service; however, the British dismissed him from the job in because he was deemed too sympathetic to colonial interests. In Julythe Continental Congress appointed Franklin the first postmaster general of the United States, giving him authority over all post offices from Massachusetts to Georgia.

He held this position until Novemberwhen he was succeeded by his son-in-law. The first U. InFranklin, then 42 years old, had expanded his printing business throughout the colonies and become successful enough to stop working. Retirement allowed him to concentrate on public service and also pursue more fully his longtime interest in science. In the s, he conducted experiments that contributed to the understanding of electricity, and invented the lightning rod, which protected buildings from fires caused by lightning.

Inhe conducted his famous kite experiment and demonstrated that lightning is electricity. Franklin also coined a number of electricity-related terms, including battery, charge and conductor. In addition to electricity, Franklin studied a number of other topics, including ocean currents, meteorology, causes of the common cold and refrigeration.

He developed the Franklin stove, which provided more heat while using less fuel than other stoves, and bifocal eyeglasses, which allow for distance and reading use. Benjamin Franklin was not only a pivotal figure in American history but also a successful businessman and entrepreneur. Throughout his lifetime, Franklin amassed considerable wealth primarily through his printing and publishing ventures.

He founded several newspapers, including The Pennsylvania Gazette, which became the most widely-read paper in the colonies under his ownership. He was a founding father of the United States, playing a central role in pivotal events like the drafting of the Declaration of Independence and the U. His scientific discoveries, particularly in electricity, alongside inventions like the lightning rod and bifocal glasses, showcased his polymath abilities and entrepreneurial spirit.

His life demonstrated that wealth can be an avenue for greater contributions to society, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire generations. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States and a polymath who excelled as an inventor, scientist, printer, politician, freemason, and diplomat. He played pivotal roles in drafting the Declaration of Independence and the U.

Constitution, as well as negotiating the Treaty of Paris inwhich officially ended the Revolutionary War. Franklin made significant contributions to the study of electricity, conducting the famous kite-and-key experiment to demonstrate that quick biography of benjamin franklin is electricity. He coined several terms still in use today, such as "battery", "charge", and "conductor.

Published by Franklin for 25 years starting inPoor Richard's Almanack was a yearly publication that included weather forecasts, proverbs, and entertaining essays. It was well-known for its witty sayings, such as "Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise," making it a pivotal piece of American literature and humor. Franklin held several important positions in government, including serving as a member of the Pennsylvania Assembly, deputy postmaster general of North America, and as a delegate to the Continental Congress.

He was instrumental in advocating for unity among the colonies and played a key role in shaping early American legislation and foreign policy. Initially, Franklin owned enslaved people, but his views evolved as he recognized the inherent immorality of slavery. By the s, he freed his enslaved individuals and later became a leading advocate for abolition, serving as president of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery and petitioning Congress for an end to the institution.

Franklin is remembered as a true American icon, with contributions spanning science, literature, politics, and social reform. His innovative spirit, commitment to education, founding of libraries, and establishment of the postal system have left an enduring mark on American society and continue to be celebrated today. He is often referred to as the "First American" for his diverse achievements and influence.

Bythe year-old Franklin had become one of the richest men in Pennsylvania, and he became a soldier in the Pennsylvania militia. He turned his printing business over to a partner to give himself more time to conduct scientific experiments. He moved into a new house in Franklin was a prolific inventor and scientist who was responsible for the following inventions:.

Quick biography of benjamin franklin

Franklin also discovered the Gulf Stream after his return trip across the Atlantic Ocean from London in He began to speculate about why the westbound trip always took longer, and his measurements of ocean temperatures led to his discovery of the existence of the Gulf Stream. This knowledge served to cut two weeks off the previous sailing time from Europe to North America.

Andrews in Scotland. InFranklin wrote a pamphlet concerning the education of youth in Pennsylvania that resulted in the establishment of the Academy of Philadelphia, now the University of Pennsylvania. InFranklin conducted the famous kite-and-key experiment to demonstrate that lightning was electricity and soon after invented the lightning rod.

He coined new electricity-related terms that are still part of the lexicon, such as battery, charge, conductor and electrify. InFranklin acquired the first of several enslaved people to work in his new home and in the print shop. Later in life, he became more vociferous in his opposition to slavery. Franklin served as president of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery and wrote many tracts urging the abolition of slavery.

In he petitioned the U. Congress to end slavery and the trade. Inhe was elected a Philadelphia alderman and a representative to the Pennsylvania Assembly, a position to which he was re-elected annually until Two years later, he accepted a royal appointment as deputy postmaster general of North America. He represented Pennsylvania at the Albany Congress, which adopted his proposal to create a unified government for the 13 colonies.

Franklin sailed to London to negotiate a long-standing dispute with the proprietors of the colony, the Penn family, taking William and his two enslaved people but leaving behind Deborah and Sarah. He spent much of the next two decades in London, where he was drawn to the high society and intellectual salons of the cosmopolitan city. After Franklin returned to Philadelphia inhe toured the colonies to inspect its post offices.

Since Franklin purchased stamps for his printing business and nominated a friend as the Pennsylvania stamp distributor, some colonists thought Franklin implicitly supported the new tax, and rioters in Philadelphia even threatened his house. Franklin fanned the flames of revolution by sending the private letters of Massachusetts Governor Thomas Hutchinson to America.

The letters called for the restriction of the rights of colonists, which caused a firestorm after their publication by Boston newspapers.