By: Christopher Galasso

 I was born on Milk street, Boston Massachusetts, January 17, 1706  I was baptized at Old South Meeting House  I went to school for 2 years with the clergy but had to drop out at age 10 because my family did not have enough money; my only way to learn now was to read  At age 12 I became an apprentice to my older brother James who taught me the trade of printing

 When I was 15 my brother, James founded the New England Courant  When he denied my request to send a letter to the paper for publication, I sent letters anyway as the made up character of “Mrs. Silence Dogood” a middle age widow  The letters were published and became the talk of the town  James was not happy when he learned I was “Mrs. Silence Dogood.

 I left my apprenticeship without permission therefore becoming a fugitive  At age 17 I ran away to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania searching for a new life in a new city At age 17 I proposed to Deborah Read but her mother declined my offer  When I was only 21 I made a group Artisans and tradesmen who hoped to improve the community as well as themselves

 In 1728 I founded the Pennsylvania Gazette with my partner Hugh Meredith  I had a common law marriage with Deborah Read in 1730  We had 2 kids, Folger Franklin born in 1732 and died in1736 because of smallpox and the other, Sarah Franklin born in 1743 grew up to marry Richard Bache and take care of me in old age  In 1731 I founded the library company of Philadelphia  In 1732 I hired the first American librarian Louis Timothee

IIn 1733 I published a book of clever and witty sayings known as Poor Richards Almanac IIn 1758 I published Father Abrahams Sermons MMy autobiography began in 1771 but was published after my death

 Bifocals  Franklin Stove  Glass Armonica  Lighting Rod

 In 1750 I proved lighting was electricity by flying a kite in a lightning storm with a key attached to it so lighting would strike it  In 1763 I helped organize a militia to protect Philadelphia from a group of settlers called the Paxton Boys during Pontiacs rebellion

 In 1776 I went to France to convince them to fight for the 13 colonies  In 1775 I became the first postmaster  In June 1776 I signed The Declaration of Independence

 At age 17 I went to London to get the stuff necessary to make a new newspaper in Philadelphia  I went to London again in 1768 to oppose the stamp act  I went to France in 1776 to negotiate with the French about the treaty of Paris

II was one of the 13 people who signed the declaration of independence WWhile we were making the Declaration Of Independence I was temporarily disabled by gout but I still made a few changes  a famous quote I said at the signing was “Yes, we must, indeed, all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately.”

 I died on April 17, 1790 at age 84  Approximately 20,000 people attended my funeral

 Thank you for watching!!!!!!!