Benjamin Franklin - Research Paper Example

Benjamin Franklin One of the pillars of American history who had been instrumental in contributing various works in an array of endeavors is Benjamin Franklin. He was born on the 17th of January of 1706 in Boston, Massachusetts (Vinci, par.1). He came from a large family with 13 siblings and grew up in Milk Street in a cramped household. Due to financial instability, the family could not afford sending Benjamin to school and opted to make him an apprentice to his brother’s employment as a printer.

Unfortunate travails with his brother in the printing shop provided the impetus for Benjamin’s running away in 1723 en route to Philadelphia. Life in Philadelphia was focused mainly on applying his expertise as a printer. It is here where he married Deborah Read in 1730 at the age of 24. The entrepreneurial skills of the spouses were enhanced through diverse businesses ranging from retail selling, bookstore, printing and contributing literary works in the Pennsylvania Gazette (US History, par. 14). One of the most famous works he published as Richard Saunders is the “Poor Richard’s Almanac” where “years later the most striking of these sayings were collected and published in a book” (Bellis, 3).

In 1749, Benjamin’s scientific pursuits were highlighted as he invented diverse gadgets, to wit: the Franklin stove, “swim fins, the glass harmonica (a musical instrument) and bifocals” (US History, par. 21). He was more famously known for having conducted various experiments leading to the discovery of electricity (Bellis, 2011). In another field of endeavor, Benjamin ventured into the political arena in the 1750s. He had vast accomplishments in Philadelphia, of which the following are noteworthy: “first circulating library in Philadelphia, an academy which grew into the University of Pennsylvania.

, the foundation of a hospital” among others (Bellis, 5).He was likewise civic minded and envisioned to provide a more beneficial society through “the paving and cleaning of the streets, better street lighting, the organization of a police force and of a fire company” (Bellis, 5). The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) revealed that more than being a man of diverse interests, Benjamin Franklin was considered a citizen of the world for having “negotiated treaties with Great Britain, France, Germany, Sweden, and Spain and helped secure Americas place in the world.

As a respected scientist and scholar, he was granted honorary degrees in England, Scotland, and America. And as an Enlightenment thinker, he exchanged letters with some of the greatest minds of the eighteenth century” (PBS: World of Influence, par. 2). He was truly a remarkable person, a genius in his own right whose works continue to play an inspirational part in contemporary generation’s history to the past. He died on the 17th of April, 1790 in the city of Philadelphia.“My Thoughts” One could only admire the great contributions of Benjamin Franklin as evidenced by the works that influence today’s scientific, literary and political events.

Despite a challenging childhood, he was able to surpass trials and remained successful through hard work, diligence and perseverance. His innate intellectual talents were put into productive use that benefited mankind during his lifetime and provided inspiration to people pursuing the same line of interests. A man of exemplary drive to be instrumental in changing the world made it a better place to live in.Works CitedBellis, M. Benjamin Franklin and his Times. 2010. Web. 21 March 2011. Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).

Benjamin Franklin. 2002. Web. 21 March 2011. < http://www.pbs.org/benfranklin/l2_world.html> US History. A Quick Biography of Benjamin Franklin. 2010. Web. 21 March 2011. < http://www.ushistory.org/franklin/info/index.htm> Vinci, J. Benjamin Franklin. 2004. Web. 20 March 2011. < http://colonialhall.com/franklin/franklin.php>