1. The Life of Benjamin Franklin

2. Early Life Born January 17, 1706 in Boston, MA
Had 9 brothers and seven sisters
Family trade of candle and soap making
Originally intended to become a minister but took up printmaking at age 12
Only had two years of formal education

3. Who was Benjamin Franklin?
Scientist
Inventor
Community Leader
Writer
Statesman/Politician

4. Franklin’s Accomplishments
Scientist
Proved lightening as a source of energy
First to study movement of the Gulf Stream
Inventor of…
the Franklin stove

5. Bifocals
Swim fin

6. The Glass Armonica
The Odometer

7. The Lightning Rod

8. Franklin’s Accomplishments
Community leader- Organized
The first volunteer fire departments
The first post office
The first public library
Writer
Poor Richard’s Almanack ( )
Experiments and Observations on Electricity (1751)
Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin (1791)

9. Franklin’s Accomplishments
Statesman
Served as diplomat to England and France
Helped create Declaration and Constitution.
***Only American to sign all four of the documents that created the republic
The Declaration of Independence
Treaty of alliance with France
Treaty of peace with England
The Constitution

10. Ben Franklin in Pop Culture
“It’s all about the Benjamins!”

17. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
Was unpublished during Franklin’s lifetime
Chronicles his life from
One of the most famous autobiographies ever written
Divided into four parts
Part Two contains the section “Arriving at Moral Perfection”

18. “Moral Perfection” Franklin’s attempt to rid himself of all flaws
Ties into the Rationalist belief that man could be made perfect
Includes a list of thirteen virtues Franklin felt he needed to improve upon
Franklin’s progress charted in a booklet

21. Poor Richard’s Almanack
Yearly almanac published from
Written by Franklin under the pseudonym of “Poor Richard”
Sold 10,000 copies each year
Included calendar, weather forecasts, poems, sayings, and astrological information
Franklin’s biggest publishing success

22. The Sayings of Poor Richard
“Love your neighbor; yet don’t pull down your hedge.”
“Fish and visitors smell in three days.”
“Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, half shut afterward.”

23. "Fish and visitors stink in three days."

24. The Sayings of Poor Richard
“Three may keep a secret if two of them are dead.”
“Tart words make no friends; a spoonful of honey will catch more flies than a gallon of vinegar.”
“Glass, china, and reputation are all easily cracked and never mended.”

25. The Sayings of Poor Richard
“He that lieth down with dogs shall rise up with fleas.”
“If a man could have half his wishes, he would double his troubles.”
“'Tis hard for an empty bag to stand upright.”