The Life of The Life of Benjamin FranklinBenjamin Franklin

Early LifeEarly Life

Born January 17, 1706 in Boston, MABorn January 17, 1706 in Boston, MA Had 9 brothers and seven sistersHad 9 brothers and seven sisters Family trade of candle and soap makingFamily trade of candle and soap making Originally intended to become a minister Originally intended to become a minister

but took up printmaking at age 12but took up printmaking at age 12 Only had two years of formal educationOnly had two years of formal education

Who was Benjamin Franklin?Who was Benjamin Franklin?

ScientistScientist InventorInventor Community LeaderCommunity Leader WriterWriter Statesman/PoliticianStatesman/Politician

Franklin’s AccomplishmentsFranklin’s Accomplishments

ScientistScientist Proved lightening Proved lightening

as a source of as a source of energyenergy

First to study First to study movement of the movement of the Gulf StreamGulf Stream

Inventor of…Inventor of… the Franklin stovethe Franklin stove

Swim fin Bifocals

The Glass Armonica

The Odometer

The Lightning Rod

Franklin’s AccomplishmentsFranklin’s Accomplishments

Community leader- OrganizedCommunity leader- Organized The first volunteer fire departmentsThe first volunteer fire departments The first post officeThe first post office The first public libraryThe first public library

WriterWriter Poor Richard’s AlmanackPoor Richard’s Almanack (1733-1758) (1733-1758) Experiments and Observations on ElectricityExperiments and Observations on Electricity

(1751)(1751) Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin (1791)(1791)

Franklin’s AccomplishmentsFranklin’s Accomplishments

StatesmanStatesman Served as diplomat to England and FranceServed as diplomat to England and France Helped create Helped create DeclarationDeclaration and and ConstitutionConstitution.. ***Only American to sign all four of the ***Only American to sign all four of the

documents that created the republicdocuments that created the republic

The Declaration of IndependenceThe Declaration of IndependenceTreaty of alliance with FranceTreaty of alliance with FranceTreaty of peace with EnglandTreaty of peace with EnglandThe ConstitutionThe Constitution

Ben Franklin in Pop Ben Franklin in Pop CultureCulture

““It’s all about the Benjamins!”It’s all about the Benjamins!”

The Autobiography of Benjamin FranklinThe Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

Was unpublished during Franklin’s Was unpublished during Franklin’s lifetimelifetime

Chronicles his life from 1771-1790Chronicles his life from 1771-1790 One of the most famous One of the most famous

autobiographies ever writtenautobiographies ever written Divided into four partsDivided into four parts Part Two contains the section Part Two contains the section

“Arriving at Moral Perfection”“Arriving at Moral Perfection”

““Moral Perfection”Moral Perfection”

Franklin’s attempt to rid himself of all Franklin’s attempt to rid himself of all flawsflaws

Ties into the Rationalist belief that Ties into the Rationalist belief that man could be made perfectman could be made perfect

Includes a list of thirteen virtues Includes a list of thirteen virtues Franklin felt he needed to improve Franklin felt he needed to improve uponupon

Franklin’s progress charted in a Franklin’s progress charted in a bookletbooklet

Poor Richard’s AlmanackPoor Richard’s Almanack

Yearly almanac published from 1733-Yearly almanac published from 1733-17581758

Written by Franklin under the Written by Franklin under the pseudonym of “Poor Richard”pseudonym of “Poor Richard”

Sold 10,000 copies each yearSold 10,000 copies each year Included calendar, weather forecasts, Included calendar, weather forecasts,

poems, sayings, and astrological poems, sayings, and astrological informationinformation

Franklin’s biggest publishing successFranklin’s biggest publishing success

The Sayings of Poor RichardThe Sayings of Poor Richard

““Love your neighbor; yet don’t pull Love your neighbor; yet don’t pull down your hedge.”down your hedge.”

““Fish and visitors smell in three Fish and visitors smell in three days.”days.”

““Keep your eyes wide open before Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, half shut afterward.”marriage, half shut afterward.”

The Sayings of Poor RichardThe Sayings of Poor Richard

““Three may keep a secret if two of Three may keep a secret if two of them are dead.”them are dead.”

““Tart words make no friends; a Tart words make no friends; a spoonful of honey will catch more spoonful of honey will catch more flies than a gallon of vinegar.”flies than a gallon of vinegar.”

““Glass, china, and reputation are all Glass, china, and reputation are all easily cracked and never mended.”easily cracked and never mended.”

The Sayings of Poor RichardThe Sayings of Poor Richard

““He that lieth down with dogs shall He that lieth down with dogs shall rise up with fleas.”rise up with fleas.”

““If a man could have half his wishes, If a man could have half his wishes, he would double his troubles.”he would double his troubles.”

““'Tis hard for an'Tis hard for anempty bag to stand upright.”empty bag to stand upright.”