I read the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin when I was a child. Ben was my childhood hero and I was even more amazed by his abundant life after learning more about him through many sources later. When I visited Philadelphia in person, I was reminded of his impacts to the US as many people called him the First American. Along Benjamin Franklin Parkway, there is Franklin Institute where the visitor participate all the exhibits. Next to the historical sites area of Independence Visitor Center on the Market Street, there stands B. Free Franklin Post Office & Museum which is the only active post office in the United States that does not fly the American flag (because there was not yet one in 1775 when Benjamin Franklin was appointed Postmaster General). He is a fixture in Philadelphia anywhere you go. Driving through the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, it leads you to New Jersey. His portrait is on the US $100 dollar bill. We will know much more of his accomplishments and contributions to the United State of America soon.
Benjamin Franklin was born on January 17, 1706, in Boston into a large family where the father was a soap and candle maker. He had 17 children, seven with first wife, and 10 with second wife. Benjamin was his 15th child and the last son. The father sent him to Boston Latin School at age of 8 but the family could not afford the expenses for the education. After two years’ grammar school at 10, Benjamin was brought to his father’s shop to work as apprentice. At 12, he became an apprentice to his brother, James, who bought a press and type from England to set up a printing business in Boston. The arrangement allowed Benjamin easy access to books that he could borrow, or purchase cheaply. Benjamin continued his own education through voracious reading, learning arithmetic, navigation, and writings.
James found The New-England Courant, an independent newspaper which constantly needed materials. When denied the chance to write for the newspaper, Benjamin started writing letters at age 16 to the paper under a pen name of “Mrs. Silence Dogood” (Do Good), a middle-aged widow. The letters were published and created such a fanfare that neither James nor the readers were aware of the disguised young author. Similar to the current saying, “No one knew you were a dog in Internet.” The newspaper offended the authority with open critics on local authorities; consequently, James was imprisoned briefly. During that time, Benjamin took over the responsibilities of editor for the newspaper. James was unhappy to discover the identity of popular correspondent, and felt threatened by his young brother. Afterwards, Benjamin found the situation intolerable and resolved to leave the job. James visited all the printer shops claiming Benjamin breached the employment contract and prevented him to find jobs in Boston.
At age 17, Benjamin set off to Philadelphia via New York. He soon found part-time work in the printing shops to support himself. As Pennsylvania Governor Sir William Keith promised Franklin to set up a shop for government printing business, Franklin went to London in 1724 to acquire the equipment necessary for establishing printing shop in Philadelphia. The promised letters of credit never came through, so Franklin found himself alone in a new city with no friends, no job, and little money. He soon found a job as a typesetter in a printing shop. In the mean time, he continued his self-education: reading books, meeting authors, and entertaining new ideas.
Franklin returned to Philadelphia in 1726. With his knowledge, skills, and experiences in the printing business, Franklin had an opportunity entering a partnership in 1728 after a few employments. They bought out a failing newspaper, The Pennsylvania Gazette, and Franklin became the publisher in 1729. He soon made it into the most widely read newspaper in the colony. With a loan, Franklin bought out the shares of the partnership in 1730. In addition to the newspaper, he opened a stationery store on the side to sell stationery, books, and various subjects.
Franklin gained his wealth from Poor Richard’s Almanac, which was launched in 1732 and continued for 25 years. “I endeavored to make it both entertaining and useful, and it accordingly came to be in such demand, that I reaped considerable profit from it, vending annually near ten thousand.” “I filled all the little spaces in the calendar with proverbial sentences, chiefly such as inculcated industry and frugality, as the means of procuring wealth, and thereby securing virtue;”
In his Autobiography, Benjamin stated the importance of good habits, or virtues. He laid out the 13 virtues he practiced in the following paragraphs.
“I concluded, at length, that the mere speculative conviction that it was our interest to be completely virtuous was not sufficient to prevent our slipping; and that the contrary habits must be broken, and good ones acquired and established, before we can have any dependence on a steady, uniform rectitude of conduct.”
After the 2008 financial crisis, these virtues are refreshing to read again. He would advise that we shun greed, live responsibly within our means, and conserve natural resources accordingly. Franklin lived and advocated the middle class values in America as he grew up from a worker family and became rich through industry and frugality.
Franklin lived an abundant life with many accomplishments in several fields. There were many first in the American history. In 1736, Franklin created the Union Fire Company, one of the first volunteer firefighting companies in America. Franklin founded The Library Company in 1731, American Philosophical Society in 1743, University of Pennsylvania in 1749, Philadelphia Contributionship (Insurance) in 1752. He raised money to help found Pennsylvania Hospital in 1751, in conjunction with Dr. Thomas Bond. Franklin served on the hospital’s original Board of Managers, as well as being its first secretary and second president.
Franklin was a prodigious inventor. Among his many creations were the lightning rod, glass armonica, Franklin stove, bifocal glasses and the flexible urinary catheter. Franklin never patented his inventions; in his autobiography he wrote, “… as we enjoy great advantages from the inventions of others, we should be glad of an opportunity to serve others by any invention of ours; and this we should do freely and generously.”
From the profitable business, Franklin was allowed the leisure time for study and was able to engage in Philadelphia politics. He progressed rapidly, and was elected to the Pennsylvania Assembly in 1751. In 1757, he was sent to England by the Pennsylvania Assembly as a colonial agent to protest against the political influence of the Penn family, the proprietors of the colony. The mission was unsuccessful; however, it might signal the beginning of his career as the representative of the people, who lead America to her independence. Franklin returned to Philadelphia in 1762, but was soon sent back to London as agent of the Assembly in 1764 again.
Franklin traveled in Europe while he was stationed in London during those years. He has made friends in France, and has become a spokesperson for the American colonies. As the taxation issues (Stamp Act) got worse, Franklin gradually switched from an imperialist to a revolutionist. The American Revolution had begun when he returned in Philadelphia in 1775. The Pennsylvania Assembly unanimously chose Franklin as their delegate to the Second Continental Congress. On July 26, 1775, the Second Continental Congress established the United States Post Office and named Benjamin Franklin as the first United States Postmaster General. In June 1776, he was appointed a member of the Committee of Five that drafted the Declaration of Independence.
He was dispatched to France as ambassador for the United States in 1776 till 1785. While George Washington fought the war in America, Franklin played the diplomatic role in the continent to gain supports from other European countries. When he returned home in 1785, Franklin occupied a position only second to that of George Washington as the champion of American independence. Franklin served as 6th president of Pennsylvania (Governor) from 1785 to 1788. Franklin died in 1790 at age of 84.
Benjamin Franklin always considered himself a leather apron man, a mechanic, a printer. He signed his name with a footnote of the printer even after he became famous with all the accomplishments. Through his own search of identity, he continuously explored new frontiers. From the European view, he was the American. For American people, he represents the American dream. There are opportunities for wealth, achievements, and contributions. He fully utilized his talents and lived his life as a middle-class of values for hard-working and generosity to community. To this day, we still can turn to him for inspirations. He is the American.
Further Reading:
Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
Written in December 2012.