Benjamin Franklin is mostly known for his patriotic actions, but the average

person does not know about his life, what led him to do everything he was able to
achieve, and many other great things he was able to do which the world does not
recognize him for, including the Franklin stove. He was one of the Founding Fathers of
the United States of America and is also known for making significant contributions in
the areas of physics regarding electricity.
Franklin chose to make a recollection of his life because he deeply enjoyed his
lifetime, and if presented with the opportunity would repeat it, only fixing some minor
mistakes along the way. Benjamin Franklin was born on 1706 in Boston to Josiah
Franklin and Abiah Folger. He was the 15th child of a total of 17 brothers and sisters. His
father sent him to school with the intention of seeing his son becoming a minister, but
abandoned that idea as he saw how Benjamin enjoyed writing and reading.
At the young age of 12 he signed a contract of eight to work for his brother
James, who was a printer. In this job he was able to improve even more his reading and
writing, but he quit after only five years. At the age of 17, he secretly moved to
Philadelphia where he worked for Samuel Keimer in a printing shop. Here he met his
future wife Deborah Read. While at Philadelphia, someone gave the city governor a
letter written by Franklin, and the Gov. William Keith is very impressed by the young
mans remarkable writing skills.
He later on decides to move 18 months to England in search of connections that
could be useful for him in the future. There he worked at Palmers, a distinguished
printing house in England. He established a debate group named the Junto after he went
back to America. In 1728, Keimer is almost bankrupt so Franklin decided to buy The
Pennsylvania Gazette from him, which he transformed into a widely successful

publication. Two years later he marries his old lover, Deborah Read. With her help he
founds the first library in America.
In 1732 he begins Poor Richards Almanac, a yearly publication that lasted 25
years. Ten years later he invented the stove, in his deep interest for improving the
conditions of life. In the decade of the 40s he sets up a plan for colonial defense,
establishes a street sweeping service, and forms the first modern fire department in
America. He began working on what would later on become the University of
Pennsylvania and became Postmaster General of America. In 1753 he was granted with
honorary degrees from the prestigious universities Harvard and Yale.
He focused all his attention on his scientific work, during which he came up with
the idea that lightning and electricity are the same thing. In 1754, during the war
between France and England, Franklin worked planning propositions to collect funds
for colonial defense. He was largely involved in the coordination of the war.