1. Benjamin Franklin
Ansur Ahmed

2. Benjamin Franklin

3. Life Born January 17, 1706 in Boston Tenth son out of 15 children
Josiah Franklin- candle and soap maker
Abiah Franklin- stayed home to raise kids
Sent to Grammar School at 8 to become minister
Dropped out after two years because his father couldn’t afford it
Learned to read and write quickly

4. Continued school later on in life, but did not finish
Worked with his father making candles and soap
Loved to read, so his father let him join the printing business
Joined his brother, James, as an apprentice at age 12
Loved to write, so he submitted articles under alias of “Silence Dogood”
His brother found out and kicked him out
Notes

5. Ran away to Philadelphia and worked in many print shops
Met his future wife, Deborah Read, in Philadelphia
Went to London and worked as a compositor
Returned and created a group called “Junto” in Philadelphia, a group people discussed and tried to resolve issues
Started a library with monetary help from Junto
Started the “Pennsylvania Gazette”, a newspaper
Pennsylvania Gazette became extremely popular
Joined the Free-Masons and also edited one of their books

6. Convinced Philadelphia government to create fire department and more complicated money and have night guards
Wrote Poor Richard’s Almanac, which became wildly successful
Wrote The Autobiography, in which he listed the thirteen virtues
Let others take over his printing job
Founded University of Pennsylvania and first American Hospital
President of the American Philosophical Society
Died at 84 on April 17, 1790
20,000 people attended his funeral
Mourned on both sides of the Atlantic
Buried beside his wife, who died 16 year prior

7. Scientist Would gain a reputation that rivaled Isaac Newton
Became interested in electricity
First to suggest lightning was electricity
Couldn’t build a lightning rod, so he used a kite, hemp string, jar, and a device that registered electrical charge

8. Inventions and Discoveries
Bifocals
Longer lasting lumber (treated with salt)
New methods of testing electrical conduction
Published essays about Aurora borealis (Northern Lights)
Franklin stove
Odometer
Wooden pole with grabbing arms

9. Statesman
First drawn into politics when pirates were on the Delaware River and the French and Indians were attacking
Established a militia, in which he served
October 5, elected to Philadelphia council
Appointed as “Justice of Peace” the next year (responsible for enforcing laws)
May elected to Pennsylvania Assembly
August 10, elected deputy postmaster general of North America

10. Statesman The Indians near Pennsylvania received guns from the French
Believed that the colonies needed to unite, so he created this comic:
Most likely America’s first political cartoon

11. Statesman Organized a militia when Britain was at war with France
Went to England to convince the crown that the colonist should be able to tax the colony’s proprietor
Successfully received this power
Convinced gang to leave Pennsylvania
Voted out of office because his enemies thought he was trying to take over
Later, colonies appointed him to be their representative for Britain…he was “the voice of America”
Annoyed that Britain knew nothing of American life, so he wrote many essays and articles
Also joined Second Continental Congress and helped write the Declaration of Independence

12. Statesman Went to Paris for a while and everyone loved him
Met with philosophers like himself such as Voltaire
Made peace with Britain and almost convinced them to give Americans Canada
Attended the Grand Convention as an advice-giver

13. His Works Many, many titles but the main ones are:
Poor Richard’s Almanac
Pennsylvania Gazette
The Autobiography

14. Pennsylvania Gazette
One of America’s most prominent newspapers from
Benjamin Franklin and Hugh
Meridith had to get the rights of
the paper through a legal dispute
Franklin would contribute to it
through aliases and his name
Had a section for ads, employment
offers, rewards for lost things, etc;
Ran the first political cartoon

15. The Autobiography Starts with a greeting to his son, William
Talks about his ancestry
Talks about his life and personal experiences and opinions
Mentions the Thirteen Virtues, things he uses for self-betterment

16. Thirteen Virtues
"Temperance. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation."
"Silence. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation."
"Order. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time."
"Resolution. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve."
"Frugality. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing."
"Industry. Lose no time; be always employ'd in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions."
"Sincerity. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly."
"Justice. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty."
"Moderation. Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve."
"Cleanliness. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths, or habitation."
"Tranquility. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable."
"Chastity. Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation."
"Humility. Imitate Jesus and Socrates."

17. Thirteen Virtues
Franklin tries to follow each virtue for a week each until he goes through all of them
Keeps a book documenting his failures and successes
Continuously goes through the cycles and gets better and better, with less failures
Claims that “Order” is the hardest for him, because he has good memory, which makes order not necessary
Did not care about his inability to perfect all these virtues…"a speckled axe is best....A benevolent man should allow a few faults in himself, to keep his friends in countenance.“
Although he didn’t perfect them, he did become happier
Franklin claims that these virtues appeal to all religions

18. Poor Richard’s Almanac(k)
The Almanac contained calendar, weather, poems, sayings, astronomical info, and astrological info
Borrowed the name from Richard Saunders and used it as an alias
Sold more than 10,000 copies a year
Translated in many languages
Received much criticism (even from Nathaniel Hawthorne)
Napoleon Bonaparte even read it
Serial- different versions for different years

19. Poor Richard’s Almanac(k) Aphorisms
Aphorism- a wise saying to live by or follow
“Time is money.”
“In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.”
“Early to bed, early to rise,
Makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.”
“Success has ruined many a man.”
“Necessity never made a good bargain.”
“God helps them that help themselves.”
“Laziness travels so slowly that poverty soon overtakes him.”
“Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.”
“God heals and the doctor takes the fees.”
“He that lives upon hope will die fasting.”
“There was never a good war, or a bad peace.”
“Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that's the stuff life is made of.”

20. Study Guide Question
“Define the term ‘self-made man’ and apply it to Franklin. Franklin was self-made because he had little education and relied very much on hard work. His hard working background is something he was very proud of. He also was not forced to take an interest in science and politics; he did it himself and excelled. “What were his accomplishments as a statesman, writer, and inventor?” Already covered. “What similarities and differences does he share with Thomas Jefferson? Unlike Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin was interested in science and was also in the writing business. However, like Jefferson, Franklin was heavily involved in politics. Both were involved in the signing of the Declaration of Independence and were ambassadors to France. “What makes Franklin’s The Autobiography a model of the genre? It was the first real autobiography, that did not have to do with religious reasons. In it, he talks about his ideas as well. “What virtues does Franklin hope to develop in himself?” Temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, chastity, and humility were all virtues Franklin hoped to instill in himself.