Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin
Institutions	American Philosophical Society, University of Pennsylvania, Library Company of Philadelphia
Nationality	American
Known for	Electricity experiments, American diplomacy, civic institutions
Occupation	Polymath, statesman, scientist
Notable works	Poor Richard's Almanack, The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
Field	Electricity, diplomacy, civic institutions
Wikidata	Q34969

Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790) was a leading figure of the American Enlightenment, best known as a statesman, inventor, scientist, and writer. Born into a modest family in colonial Massachusetts, he rose to prominence in Philadelphia as a printer and publisher. Franklin’s life spanned many roles: he published the popular Poor Richard’s Almanack (a yearly calendar of weather forecasts, aphorisms, and practical advice), ran the first public library, and experimented with electricity – famously proving lightning is a form of electric discharge. He helped to shape the emerging United States as a Founding Father: he signed the Declaration of Independence (1776), negotiated the Treaty of Paris ending the Revolutionary War (1783), and was a delegate at the Constitutional Convention (1787). Franklin’s achievements in science, politics, and civic activism made him a symbol of American ingenuity and pragmatism.

Early Life and Education

Benjamin Franklin was born on January 17, 1706 (old style January 6) in Boston, in the British colony of Massachusetts. He was the fifteenth of seventeen children in a working-class Protestant family. His formal schooling ended around age ten; he continued learning mostly by reading and practical experience. At twelve, Franklin began an apprenticeship at his older brother James’s printing press. He practiced writing and debate by publishing short essays under the pseudonym “Mrs. Silence Dogood” in the New England Courant, a newspaper his brother ran.

In 1723, as a restless teenager, Franklin ran away to Philadelphia (then a small city). There he found work as a printer and later opened his own print shop. In 1728 he bought the Pennsylvania Gazette, a newspaper that became influential under his editorship. He expanded his publishing business and became involved in civic groups. In 1729 he founded the Junto, a discussion club that shared reading and encouraged public improvement projects. He married Deborah Read in 1730 and raised two children. By his thirties Franklin had established himself as a leading citizen of Philadelphia, known for wit, practical inventions, and curiosity about science and the world.

Major Works and Ideas

Franklin’s accomplishments span many fields. In science and technology he is best known for his work on electricity. In the 1740s he conducted experiments demonstrating that static electricity and lightning were the same phenomenon. He flew a kite in a thunderstorm (with a key attached to the kite string) to draw charge from thunderclouds. This experiment led him to invent the lightning rod: a rod of metal (often copper or iron) mounted on buildings to channel dangerous lightning strikes safely into the ground. He also introduced technical terms still used today: he called the two types of electrostatic charge “positive” and “negative,” and described an electrical “battery” as multiple jars storing charge (now called the Leyden jar).

Other inventions by Franklin included bifocal glasses (spectacles with lenses divided to correct near and far vision in one frame), the Franklin stove (a wood-burning stove designed to improve chimney heating efficiency), a glass armonica (a musical instrument played by rubbing glass bowls filled with water), and an early odometer (attached to carriages to measure distance traveled). He also developed the first chart of the Gulf Stream current from historical ship logs, improving sea navigation between America and Europe. Many of his inventions were practical in nature, reflecting his interest in solving everyday problems of heating, lighting, and travel.

Franklin made significant contributions as a writer and publisher. Starting in 1732, he published Poor Richard’s Almanack under the fictional name Richard Saunders. This annual pamphlet offered weather forecasts, practical tips, and pithy aphorisms (short sayings) about industry, thrift, and morality, such as “Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.” Poor Richard’s Almanack became extremely popular in colonial America and helped spread ideas of the Enlightenment (an intellectual movement emphasizing reason and science). Franklin also ran the Pennsylvania Gazette, writing essays and humor pieces, and he later wrote his Autobiography, which became a classic of American literature. His writings often mixed plain practical advice with wit, reflecting his belief in self-improvement and public virtue.

In politics and public life, Franklin’s ideas helped shape American institutions. In the 1750s he advocated for colonial unity; he drafted the Albany Plan of Union (1754), an early proposal for uniting the British American colonies for common defense (foreshadowing later unification). He served as a representative of Pennsylvania’s colonial assembly and worked in London (1757–1775) to lobby the British government on colonial interests. Initially a loyal British subject, Franklin’s views shifted as tensions grew; by 1776 he supported independence. He represented Pennsylvania in the Second Continental Congress and, with limited formal schooling, still became a skilled diplomat. In France (1776–1785) he won French support in the Revolutionary War through charm and reason, helping negotiate treaties that secured American independence.

Franklin’s civic-minded ideas led him to help found important institutions. He established the Library Company of Philadelphia (1731), America’s first lending library, so that ordinary citizens could share books. He founded one of the first volunteer fire departments (1736) and helped create a militia to enforce fire insurance. He was involved in starting the University of Pennsylvania (originally a charity school, chartered as a college in 1740) to educate young leaders. In 1743 he co-founded the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia to promote scientific discussion. As Postmaster General of the colonies (appointed in 1753 and later serving the United States), he reorganized postal routes and improved the mail system. These activities embodied Franklin’s belief in practical improvements for society and public welfare.

Method

Benjamin Franklin’s approach to work and experiment combined practicality with curiosity. He valued empirical methods: learning by observation and experiment rather than just theory. For example, in his electricity work he carefully recorded the results of each test and shared his findings in newspapers and books (an early form of peer communication). His explanations often used everyday terms. Instead of unfamiliar jargon, he described electrical charge in terms of a fluid that could be positive or negative, so readers could visualize it like water flowing.

Franklin also believed in clear language and self-improvement. He famously taught himself how to spell and write well; as a young man he practiced rewriting political essays to improve style. He kept a “plan of order” to change one personal virtue at a time (like temperance or humility). This disciplined, step-by-step method was reflected in all his pursuits: he managed his printing business carefully, approached scientific problems systematically, and tackled political challenges incrementally. In diplomacy, too, Franklin’s method was to listen patiently and win over opponents with reason and humor. His often-quoted maxim—“Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead”—shows his pragmatic wit.

In summary, Franklin’s method was pragmatic and inclusive: he sought solutions that benefited practical needs, and he communicated them widely. He once said that sharing his findings was essential because “the doing of a good action does not always lie within the compass of our abilities, but the conceiving of good thoughts does.” This meant he published advice and ideas freely, assuming that knowledge should be shared to help others.

Influence

Franklin’s influence on science, politics, and culture was profound. In science, his discoveries in electricity influenced later researchers like Italian scientist Luigi Galvani and French physicist Coulomb. His terminology (positive/negative charge) is still in use, and his experiments with charge inspired future electrical inventions. Franklin’s practical inventions (stove, glasses, lightning rod) improved many people’s lives and spread through Europe and America in his lifetime.

Culturally, Franklin embodied the Enlightenment ideal of the “self-made man.” Coming from a humble background, through hard work and curiosity he became a famous scholar-statesman. This idea inspired others in the new world and beyond: he was widely known in Europe as a model of American virtue and ingenuity. His writings on free speech and civic debate influenced others advocating independence and democratic ideas.

Politically, Franklin’s role as a Founding Father left a lasting mark. He helped frame key early American documents and institutions. For example, his Join, or Die political cartoon (a segmented snake) was an early symbol encouraging colonial unity against outside threats. His diplomatic successes helped secure critical support from France in the Revolutionary War, altering world power balances. By signing the U.S. Constitution, he contributed to the system of government that still operates today. His image on the American $100 bill and the U.S. Postal Service’s middle name (“Benjamin Franklin, 1706–1790”) reflects his enduring presence.

Franklin’s civic projects also had lasting legacy. The University of Pennsylvania and the American Philosophical Society continue as major institutions. His emphasis on libraries and public information laid groundwork for the tradition of American public libraries and free press. His experiments were some of the first to spark public interest in science in the colonies: for instance, cities held public lectures and demonstrations of electricity because Franklin had tested it in the open.

He also influenced debates on social issues. Late in life, Franklin became an abolitionist (opponent of slavery); he petitioned Congress in 1790 to end slavery, reflecting Enlightenment values of human rights. Young intellectuals and statesmen both in America and abroad studied Franklin’s accomplishments and letters, regarding him as a symbol of the inventive, reasoned spirit.

Critiques

Even so, Franklin’s life had complexities and drew some criticism. Early in his career he was criticized by colonial authorities and English officials. His satirical essays and attitude toward authority sometimes earned him reprimands. During the pre-Revolution years, British politicians called him a seditious troublemaker (a person stirring unrest). In Connecticut in 1759 he was accused in court of breaking Sabbath laws for his scientific activity on Sunday (he demonstrated via affidavit that he was collecting provender – the case was dismissed).

Historically, later commentators have pointed out contradictions in Franklin’s character. One major critique is about slavery: Franklin owned slaves for many years to work his home and print shop, as was common at the time. However, by the 1780s he had come to oppose slavery, freed his own slaves, and became president of an abolition society in Philadelphia. Critics note the tension between his early life (in which he “accepted” slavery) and his later moral stance. This reflects the broader struggle in American society that Franklin himself sometimes recognized: philosophical ideals versus social practices.

Another criticism involves Franklin’s political pragmatism. Early on he believed America could safely remain under British rule, and he attempted compromise. Some historians say he did not immediately champion independence, perhaps slowing the revolutionary cause. However, others interpret these actions as cautious strategy. He eventually championed independence fully.

Some literary critics have observed that Franklin’s Autobiography presents a carefully edited view of his life. It emphasizes his virtues and obscure his failures or personal troubles. For example, it does not say much about his long-lasting survival of malpractice by his own family or his private moods. This has led to discussion about how accurately his own writing reflects his whole life story. In general, "critics" of Franklin tend to be in-depth historians or biographers noting that his legend often outpaces the messy realities of any life. Nonetheless, even critical biographies usually recognize Franklin’s adaptability and generosity of mind, balancing any flaws against his many accomplishments.

Legacy

Benjamin Franklin left a rich legacy in American culture and beyond. He became an archetype of the American Enlightenment and a main example of how science and practical wisdom could coexist with civic virtue. His face and name are commemorated in numerous ways: the U.S. $100 bill bears his portrait and the phrase “In God We Trust” (which first appeared on currency during Franklin’s postmaster era). There are Franklin-themed stamps, statues (for example, the Congress Hall in Philadelphia where he served), and even a literary character (Benjamin Franklin appears as a figure in novels and plays about the Revolutionary era).

Many institutions bear his name, including the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia (scientific museum and education center) and Franklin County in many states. The University of Pennsylvania (which he helped start) uses his image and motto (“Leges sine Moribus Vanae” – Laws without morals are useless). Schools and scholarships sometimes carry his name, celebrating his identity as a self-educated scholar.

Franklin’s writings and ideas continue to be studied. His letters and autobiography appear in school curricula as examples of early American literature. Quotes from Poor Richard’s Almanack still circulate as proverbs (e.g. “A penny saved is a penny earned”). The interest in Franklin even extends to popular culture: he appears on the $100 “Benjamin” bill, and a folk band is named after him. Historians regard him as a complicated but central figure in understanding not just the founding of the United States, but the broader age of Enlightenment that valued knowledge, reason, and public debate.

Franklin also set a tone for American political culture: he was known for practical hackneyed diplomacy (he joked that an empty cabinet were a costly magazine of stale provisions; this became a metaphor for not hoarding supplies). He advised young leaders of the new country to learn from their mistakes. In short, his life story from tradesman to statesman encourages the idea of the “American Dream” before that phrase existed.

Selected Works

Poor Richard’s Almanack (1732–1758): Annual almanac (calendar) printed under the pseudonym “Richard Saunders,” containing weather predictions, poems, jokes, and wise sayings.
Experiments and Observations on Electricity (1751–1769): A three-part scientific book reporting Franklin’s electrical experiments and theories.
The Pennsylvania Gazette (1729–1766): Newspaper published by Franklin; he contributed essays, editorials, and reports influencing public opinion.
Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin (written 1771–1790, published posthumously): His life story up to 1757, mixing personal narrative with observations on character and politics.
Various letters and essays on political topics (between 1760s and 1780s) advocating colonial rights, unity, and independence.
Inventions and patents: including designs for the lightning rod (patent in Britain, 1752) and Franklin stove (patent in France, 1741).

Timeline of Key Events

1706: Benjamin Franklin is born in Boston, Massachusetts.
1723: Franklin moves to Philadelphia at age 17 and begins work as a printer.
1729: He buys the Pennsylvania Gazette, making him a prominent publisher.
1732: Releases the first issue of Poor Richard’s Almanack.
1741: Designs the Franklin stove to improve home heating.
1751: Publishes the first volume of Experiments and Observations on Electricity.
1753: Demonstrates that lightning is electricity and proposes the lightning rod; becomes Deputy Postmaster of America.
1765: Opposes the British Stamp Act (a tax on the colonies), contributing to growing calls for colonial rights.
1776: Signs the United States Declaration of Independence as a delegate from Pennsylvania.
1778: Secures a military alliance with France for the American cause (Treaty of Alliance).
1783: Helps negotiate the Treaty of Paris, ending the Revolutionary War and recognizing American independence.
1787: Attends the Constitutional Convention; signs the U.S. Constitution.
1790: Benjamin Franklin dies in Philadelphia on April 17, remembered as a key architect of the American republic.

Through his inventions, writing, and public service, Benjamin Franklin remains a founding figure who shaped early American society and exemplified the values of innovation and civic responsibility.