Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790) is most famous for being one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, but as well as a statesman and politician, he was also a talented writer, scientist and inventor. Benjamin also improved the lives of ordinary citizens by starting many important institutions still found in America today. Find out more about this talented and versatile man and use our collection of printable resources below to explore his life and learn more about him.

Fun Facts

• During his teenage years, Benjamin worked as an apprentice at a print shop run by his brother James. Although his brother refused to publish his work, Benjamin began writing letters under the false name Mrs Silence Dogood. His letters delighted readers but made James very angry when he found out who was responsible!
• For 25 years, Benjamin also published a book called Poor Richard’s Almanack, which included many of his wise and witty sayings. Today, he appears in print most often on the back of the US $100 note, which has featured his portrait for over a hundred years.

Favourite Benjamin Franklin Quotes

“Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.”

“Well done is better than well said.”

“Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today.”

A Short Biography of Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston, USA, in 1706 to Josiah Franklin and his second wife Abiah. Josiah had seven children with his first wife and ten with Abiah. Benjamin was his fifteenth child, and youngest son.

When Benjamin was 10, he left school to support his father’s business, as a soap and candle maker. But Benjamin loved to read and became very knowledgeable. Josiah thought his son should start an apprenticeship at a print shop run by Benjamin’s brother James. Benjamin soon learnt a great deal about newspaper publishing.

But Benjamin became increasingly unhappy working for his brother for no pay and ran away to Philadelphia at the age of 17. He began working for another printer and lodged at the home of John Read. Benjamin later married John’s daughter Deborah and they had two children together, Francis and Sarah. Francis sadly died from smallpox at the age of four. Benjamin also had an older son, William, from a previous relationship.

Around the time of his marriage, Benjamin was named the official printer of Pennsylvania, and soon ran one of the country’s most successful newspapers. He began publishing books and turned his attentions to science. Before long, he was one of Pennsylvania’s richest men.

Like many men of the time, Benjamin employed slaves to work for him. But he began to realise this was wrong. He freed his slaves in the 1760s and campaigned for the abolition of slavery.

Benjamin also felt a great sense of duty to ordinary people and his legacy is seen in many public services in America today. He founded the first public lending library in the US, for example, and helped to found America’s first public hospital. He was also the country’s first Postmaster General, starting regular mail deliveries, and organised Philadelphia’s first volunteer fire service. He served several roles in government, too, and was recognised as a key statesman as one of the Founding Fathers to draft the US constitution when the country separated from British rule.

Benjamin is also famous for his experiments with electricity. He proved, for example, that lightning is a type of electricity. One stormy day, he (dangerously) flew a kite attached to a metal key by a piece of string. Fortunately, the kite wasn’t struck by lightning, but Benjamin noticed a spark on the key caused by an electric charge. He later invented the lightning conductor – a metal rod fixed to tall buildings to transfer electricity safely to the ground in the event of a lightning strike. We also have Benjamin to thank for bifocal lenses (used for both distance and near-vision) and the Franklin stove (a metal-lined fireplace that’s unique shape created more heat with less smoke and fuel).

It’s remarkable how much Benjamin achieved during his lifetime. He died at the age of 84 after suffering poor health and was buried next to his wife Deborah. The city of Philadelphia mourned a man who used his success to make a real difference to ordinary people’s lives.

Our Benjamin Franklin Resources