Friday, October 18, 2013

Benjamin Franklin -the Sciencey and Printy Man


          In January 17, 1706, Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston. In Benjamin’s family there were 17 kids! Ben was the third youngest because he had two little sisters.

Benjamin loved books. Back then there were not any public schools or text books, so he educated himself by reading books.

          In 1718, he began looking for a job. At first, he wanted to become a cutler. His parents wanted his cousin to teach him, but he wanted a high price that the Franklins couldn’t afford. Then he, became a printer with his brother James. Ben loved printing but not with James. James would always beat Ben and abuse him without cause. When he was 17, he decided to leave his job and find a job at New York.

          There was not many good jobs in New York. At one printing shop, he was told that there were good jobs in Philadelphia so he went there. In Philadelphia, he was very hungry so he bought three giant loafs of bread for three pennies. At that time money was worth more. For example, a penny back then could buy the same as 28 dollars today!

          While he was walking down a street eating the bread, a woman named Deborah laughed at him because he looked so goofy. Later, Benjamin married Deborah and had some kids. Ben was strolling toward a Quaker meeting house. Benjamin was a Quaker. During the meeting, he didn’t pay much attention because he was sleeping.

          Benjamin found a printing shop to work at and he stayed at a boarding house which was owned by the father of Deborah. Ben became the greatest person in Philadelphia. For 25 years he wrote an almanac once a year called “Poor Richard’s Almanac”. He also wrote a lot of other books and articles.

          In 1757, he came back to Boston and then went to London, England, to start a printing shop or maybe start a newspaper.

          Around 1780, he started helping the American Revolution. He also became an ambassador to France and helped to convince France to join America’s side in the Revolution. When he was about eighty, he signed the constitution.  In April 1790, now 84, years old, he died in Philadelphia.  

          Benjamin Franklin was a great man. He was a good inventor, scientist, and printer man. He made some sayings such as “A penny saved is a penny earned” and “Early to sleep and early to rise makes a person healthy, wealthy and wise.” Even today, we use his inventions and sayings.

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