Introduction
Benjamin Franklin is known as the founding fathers of the United States. He is known as the person who outlined the declaration of independence and lso drafted the constitution if the United States. Franklin, born on 17th January, 1706, in Boston,Maassachusetts, is known as a scientist, polymath, investor, diplomat and politician (Franklin, 1967). Aside from drafting the constitution and the declaration of independence, he is also known for ending the revolutionary war in 1783 as he helped to negotiate the Paris Treaty. He made a lot of contributions towards the scientific field like many discoveries in the field of mathematics, mapmaking and electricity (Schiffer, 2006).
The title of “The First American” was given to Franklin after his tireless campaign for the unity of all the colonies back in colonial era (Franklin, 1967). He was appointed as the first ambassador of the United States of America to France, where he uplifted the American nation. At the age of 23, he started working for a newspaper and became successful as a printer as well as the editor of Pennsylvania Gazette in Philadelphia, which was known as the leading city in all the colonies (Franklin, 1967). In 1767, he became associated with Pennsylvania Chronicle, which was famous as a newspaper best known for its criticism against the british policies and stimulating the revolutionary sentiments (Franklin, 1967). He took an initiative in 1751 and establish Academy and College of Philadelphia which as late promoted as University of Pennsylvania. Franklin organized the American Philosophical Society and was the first secretary of the aforementioned society. Late, he was elected as the president of the society in 1769 (Franklin, 1967).
Discussion
Benjamin Franklin is known is the hero of all the Americans by the efforts he made for the unity of all the colonies that were suppressed under the British rule. He spearheadedly made an effort and forced the British Parliament to nullify the Stamp Act due to which he is known as the hero of colonies. Franklin was a competent diplomat (Franklin, 1967). While being the first ambassador of United States to France, he was admired in the said country for being the American minister and was known as a person who helped to build good relation between France and America. The efforts he made for the building good relationships France, proved vital during the American Revolution when France provided America shipments of crucial munitions.
During the American Revolution, he was appointed as the Postmaster Genereal of United States because of his experience back in the colonial era when he was appointed as the deputy postmaster general. Franklin was very active in community affairs as well as in the state and colonial politics. Which developed his interest not only in the national politics but also in the international politics. For some period of time, he was also appointed as the governor of Pennsylvania.
Franklin’s kids and Wife
Benjamin moved to Philadelphia in 1723 where he met Deborah who was the daughter of his landlord and married with her in 1730 when she got divorced from her first husband (Franklin, 1967). William was taken in by the couple who was out of the wedlock. Later Franklin became father of a son named Francis in 1732 but at the age of he died due to smallpox (Franklin, 1967). Then Deborah gave birth to daughter in 1743 who was named Sarah. Benjamin moved to London two times in 1757 and in 1764, but Deborah refused both time to move with Franklin as she didinot wanted to leave Philadelphia (Franklin, 1967). While moving to London for the second time in 1764, it was the last time Franklin sae his wife Deborah. As he could not come back to Philadelphia before she passed away due to a stroke in 1774 (Franklin, 1967). In 1762, Franklin, due to his political connections somehow managed to make his son William Franklin as the royal governer of New Jersey (Franklin, 1967). But later on, when Franklin changed his position and became loyal with the colonists and started supporting them, he put himself in odds with his loyal governer son who was later imprisoned.
Franklin; As an Inventor and Scientist
Franklin is also known for his services towards science. During 1740’s he expanded into entrepreneurship and science (Franklin, 1967). His pamphlet A proposal for promoting useful knowledge is a docunment that lead the foundation of American Philosophical Society. Which was the very first society created for the colonists. In 1748, he was known as the richest man in Pennsylvania. He also joined the Pennsylvaina militia and become a soldier at the age of 42 (Franklin, 1967). To give more time to sciene and for further experiments he turned over his printing business to one of his partner.
Franklin and Slavery
In 1748, Franklin bought first of his slave so that he can work for him in his new shop. Over the period of time, Franklin’s views about the slavery changed and finally in 1760, he freed all of his slaves (Franklin, 1967). Franklin was known as a person who believed in slavery but after sometime he became an active and most prominent abolitionist and started campaigns for the end of slavery because of the economic perspectives .
Was Fanklin the President of US?
Benjamin Franklin never became the president of the Unites States. He was never elected as president. But he played a very important role in the foundation of the US. He was one of the seven founding fathers. He helped a lot in the drafting of the decleration of independence as well as in the making id the constitution of the United States. He fought the election for the Pennsylvania assembly and got elected there. He was also appointed as the postmaster general during the first Revolution War. Due to his services towards America, he was given the title of “The First American”.
When and how Benjamin Franklin died?
At the age of 84, Franklin died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at his daughter’s home (Schiffer, 2006). He was suffering from gout and was complaining for many other diseases since last one and a half year. He gifted most of his wealth to his daughter Sarah and very few to William from whom he was disappointed as he opposed him during the patriot cause (Schiffer, 2006).. He also gave money to many charity homes which gave funds for different scholarships, building schools in Philadelphia and Boston.
Legacy and Accomplishments of Benjamin Franklin
Franklin was a man who never completed his school but still through his thorough study and the experiences that he got from different experiments has created a many things that could never be done by a single man. His image on the $100 bill, foundation of many different schools, societies, universities and libreries, giving United States a full fledge foreign policy, foundation of post office, efforts in the drafting of decleration of independence, drafting of the constitution, publishing different newspapers, different advancements in the science field, warming the world with the Franklin stove, advancements in the field of electricity are some of the major accomplishments of Benjamin Franklin (Isaacson, 2003). Work done by Franklin is still getting attention of the Americans even decades after his death.
Works Cited
Franklin, Benjamin, and William MacDonald. Autobiography. Grolier, 1967.
Isaacson, Walter. Benjamin Franklin: An American Life. Simon and Schuster, 2003.
Schiffer, Michael Brian. Draw the lightning down: Benjamin Franklin and electrical technology in the age of enlightenment. Univ of California Press, 2006.
