Ben Franklin

“If you would not be forgotten
As soon as you are dead and rotten,
Either write things worthy reading,
Or do things worth the writing.”

Ben Franklin

Ben Franklin was born in Boston, Massachusetts on January 17, 1706. He was one of 17 children. His father had 7 children with his first wife and 10 by his second wife. Ben was the fifteenth child. He was the son of a tallow chandler, soap and candle stick maker. Since Ben’s father did not have enough money to send him to school. He started working with his father at the age of 10 making candles. Ben did not like this work so his father allowed him to work at his older brother’s print shop. This is where Ben learned the trade of printing and developed the passion of writing. At the age of 15 Ben founded the New England Courant which was the first independent newspaper in the colonies. Ben left home at the age of 17 and settled in Philadelphia. While in Philadelphia he worked in various occupations. Also, he worked in several other print shops before finally securing his own print shop.

He is credited with being the first post master and creating the first fire station Union Fire Company in 1736. In this same year, he printed currency for New Jersey from an anti-counterfeiting technique that he had devised. Also, he was credited with establishing the organization Junto. The organization consisted of tradesman trying to better themselves and their community. The organization was a group discussion on several issues and later gave rise to many organizations in Philadelphia. Another accomplishment of Ben Franklin included the subscription library which lead to the birth of the Library Company of Philadelphia. In addition, to his newspaper called the Philadelphia Gazette and the Philadelphia Hospital. He is known as one of our great author’s with the publishing of the famous Poor Richard’s Almanack.