...biographical account of Benjamin Franklin’s life?? By Ravi Blank In every age there have been a few heroic souls who have been in advance of their time who have been misunderstood, maligned, persecuted and sometimes put to death…Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, Paine and their compeers were the rebels of their day…But they had the moral courage to be true to their convictions … We are going to explore the heroic soul of Benjamin Franklin. Franklin began writing his autobiography in 1771, but before he could finish writing his whole life story, he died in 1790. One challenge the book poses for us, then, is that it doesn’t cover a lot of the interesting and important stuff that happened in Franklin life, like the American Revolution or the time he spent working as a diplomat in Paris. Through his work as a writer, printer, statesman and inventor he forever established himself as one of America’s greatest figures. We see Benjamin Franklin’s influence during his lifetime, in the majority of major developments in U.S. History. His hard work and dedication to bettering himself and the lives of fellow American’s actually paved the way for Colonial America to separate itself from Great Britain and establish it’s self as a major world power. “A Man story is not told by list of his grand accomplishments, but rather by his smaller daily goods.” We see how his influence, which derived from his dilegence and dedication, helped shape the course of U.S. history. Benjamin Franklin was an...
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...complicated time when America was attempting to find itself. The family structure was one of hard work and survival. School and education came second to providing for ones family. During Benjamin Franklin’s early childhood, his family experienced some of the same newfound troubles many of these families were experiencing. Growing up his father, brother, and other family members had substantial influence on molding young Benjamin Franklin. As Franklin’s life unfolded, he exceeded in many fields, including science, politics, journalism, and philosophy, while also becoming one of the Founding Fathers of the nation. Thus, it is evident the childhood of Benjamin Franklin had tremendous effects on his future. Benjamin Franklin was born on January 17, 1706 in Boston. Raised by his father, Josiah Franklin, and his mother, Abiah Folger Franklin, he was cast into a large family consisting of sixteen brothers and sisters. Josiah Franklin had seven children with another women before she passed away and he married Abiah. Due to the popularity of illnesses and diseases in the early American colonies both men and women were familiar with the idea of remarrying following their spouses death. Benjamin was the “youngest son and the youngest of all the children except two daughters.” A large family like the Franklin’s was not uncommon during this time as the average colonial family consisted of approximately nine members with a household typically including...
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...Essay on Benjamin Franklin HIUS 221 Hunter Lewis III For this assignment I chose the first question, which was “One of the over-arching themes in Franklin’s Autobiography is that of self-improvement. Franklin intends for his own experience to serve as a model for others. Discuss key ways that Franklin presents his story as an illustration of self-improvement. Is he successful in the attempt? What motivates him toward this attempt? Does he strike you as a self-promoter or a genuinely benevolent man desirous of helping others? In your answer, use specific examples from the book to illustrate your points.” First off, Benjamin Franklin was an amazing man whose kindness, compassion, and love for his fellow man knew no bounds. He was and is the embodiment of self-improvement. History is filled with great men and women that have done amazing and remarkable feats to better mankind. In my personal opinion, Benjamin Franklin is up there with the best of them. This man spent the majority of his life being a model of self –improvement, so that others would emulate his actions. I know one would think that Benjamin Franklin had an easy life after reading my first paragraph, but thinking that is far from the truth. Benjamin Franklin was born on January 17, 1706 in Boston, Ma. Everyone knows that life in Colonial Times wasn’t the easiest of living. The early settlers had no idea how to survive in the wilderness, and they had no experiences in preparing for the bitter winters that...
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...Benjamin Franklin was extraordinarily famous for many accomplishments. He was an author, politician, printer, and one of America’s Founding Fathers. Franklin also discovered electricity, and invented bifocals, the lightning rod, Franklin stove, glass harmonica, odometer, and jokingly, daylight savings time. Franklin, living in Paris at the time, joked that the French slept in too late, that they wasted all the daylight. In Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography, Franklin displays a subtle sense of humor throughout different forms of set pieces in the book, including his father’s religious devotion, using an alias, and his probable pride in humility. In Part One of the Autobiography, Franklin jokes that while all nine of his older brothers became protégés of craft occupations, his father intended “to devote me as the Tithe of his Sons to the Service of the Church” (14). Franklin pokes fun at his father by implying that instead of donating a tenth of his income to the church, he is donating a tenth of his sons. He presents himself as a young man on the road to fame by showing he is different that the rest of his family and the only one of his brothers earning an education. At such a young age, he felt his education gave him superiority with his family, but his older brothers thought differently. Franklin started working as a trainee for his brother’s printing shop, which he thought he should be running. Franklin also uses a confident humor as he makes himself the laughingstock of...
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...Wilson 24 March 2013 2 Leader Profile of Ben Franklin 3 Outline Introduction Benjamin Franklin is a renowned American known for his keen business skills and leadership. Franklin was trained by his older brother James how to run the printing business. Having learned the skill he moved to Philadelphia to become his own man. Thesis Franklin’s success in business and other disciplines are of exceptional interest to the entire world because of his initiative. 1. Background Franklin always wanted to write his own stories after having learned how to read and write at an early age. He wrote compelling letters that made him popular in Boston. His brother James was jealous of the development and often scolded him. He decided to move to Philadelphia where he started his own printing business. 2. Accomplishments and Failures The printer business thrived and grew to an empire while he pursued interests in science. He made significant scientific inventions that made a great significant in the world. He had low moments in his career due to his stance on issues pertaining to justice. 3. Leadership Strengths and Weaknesses He displayed exceptional leadership traits that enabled him to achieve much in his career. He managed to lead people and motivate them to take part in some of his ventures (Northouse 21). 4. Points of View on Benjamin Franklin Franklin’s self discipline is an influential factor in the extraodinary things he has done throughout...
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...Name: Poppy Vorse Date: 10/20/14 Period: 2nd Book Title: Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin Genre: Autobiography Original Publication Date: January 1, 1790 Your Edition’s Publication Date: 1992 Author: Benjamin Franklin Number of Pages: 294 Summary: The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin begins with his purpose of writing the book, stating that the next best thing to reliving one’s life is the recollection of it in writing. Addressed to his son William, Benjamin Franklin discusses his early life in Boston, including being the 15th of 17 children. He apprenticed as a printer for his older brother, James. Franklin didn’t get along with his brother so at age 16 he went to Philadelphia where he started working for Samuel Keimer....
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...THE GLENCOE LITERATURE LIBRARY Study Guide for The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin i Meet Benjamin Franklin Benjamin thought that his older brother James was too hard on him, and they often fought. When his apprenticeship ended, Franklin went to Philadelphia. This city, far more than his birthplace of Boston, became Franklin’s home. In Philadelphia he established his own business and raised his family. After Franklin retired from business in 1748, he embarked on a new career as a civil servant. He served in the Pennsylvania Assembly and became deputy postmaster-general. Sent to England as a representative of the Assembly, he spent five years there. During that time, he made the acquaintance of statesmen and scientists alike. Years later, he returned to England and found himself caught up in the growing tension between the thirteen colonies and the British government. Franklin’s loyalties were divided. He felt affinities to the colonies and to King George II of England. When he could tolerate the British government’s policies toward the American colonies no longer, he sailed back to the colonies. By the time his ship arrived, the first battles of the American Revolution had already been fought. Franklin was chosen to serve on the Second Continental Congress, which, acting as the government for the colonies, declared independence from Britain and appointed George Washington as commander in chief of the American army. Franklin was one of five...
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...i Study Guide for The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin T H E G L E N C O E L I T E R A T U R E L I B R A R Y The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin Study Guide 9 Copyright © by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Benjamin thought that his older brother James was too hard on him, and they often fought. When his apprenticeship ended, Franklin went to Philadelphia. This city, far more than his birthplace of Boston, became Franklin’s home. In Philadelphia he established his own business and raised his family. After Franklin retired from business in 1748, he embarked on a new career as a civil servant. He served in the Pennsylvania Assembly and became deputy postmaster-general. Sent to England as a representative of the Assembly, he spent five years there. During that time, he made the acquaintance of statesmen and scientists alike. Years later, he returned to England and found himself caught up in the growing tension between the thirteen colonies and the British government. Franklin’s loyalties were divided. He felt affinities to the colonies and to King George II of England. When he could tolerate the British government’s policies toward the American colonies no longer, he sailed back to the colonies. By the time his ship arrived, the first battles of the American Revolution had already been fought. Franklin was chosen to serve on the Second Continental Congress, which, acting as the government for the colonies, declared independence...
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... he was able to achieve grasping English as a whole, there was no such thing as school for him, most of his community was illiterate, and he couldn’t show the knowledge he obtained inside of his workplace. Hence, the absorbing of a language didn’t lead to success for him. Benjamin Franklin is one of the best-known figures in American history. His rise to success, his role in this country's struggle for independence, and his investigations into the electricity are among his famous accomplishments. Yet, his fame is due not only to these achievements but also to his remarkable ability to communicate his views and ideas effectively. Franklin, was a self-taught writer, and also his role in drafting the Declaration of Independence. While Benjamin Franklin's contributions to many areas of American and international life, including science, politics, and social reform, are in themselves extraordinary; his writings are the key to his widespread and lasting influence.A large part of Benjamin Franklin's reputation is based on his scientific findings. Benjamin Franklin is known to most as a scientist and inventor, and some might characterize him as a politician. What most people probably are not aware of, is Franklin’s contributions to the literary world. His unique views and intellect provided his generation and ours with a different perspective on society and political events. In his writing “The Way to Wealth” Franklin portrayed how he was able to step outside the expected norm to share...
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...THE GLENCOE LITERATURE LIBRARY Study Guide for The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin i Meet Benjamin Franklin Benjamin thought that his older brother James was too hard on him, and they often fought. When his apprenticeship ended, Franklin went to Philadelphia. This city, far more than his birthplace of Boston, became Franklin’s home. In Philadelphia he established his own business and raised his family. After Franklin retired from business in 1748, he embarked on a new career as a civil servant. He served in the Pennsylvania Assembly and became deputy postmaster-general. Sent to England as a representative of the Assembly, he spent five years there. During that time, he made the acquaintance of statesmen and scientists alike. Years later, he returned to England and found himself caught up in the growing tension between the thirteen colonies and the British government. Franklin’s loyalties were divided. He felt affinities to the colonies and to King George II of England. When he could tolerate the British government’s policies toward the American colonies no longer, he sailed back to the colonies. By the time his ship arrived, the first battles of the American Revolution had already been fought. Franklin was chosen to serve on the Second Continental Congress, which, acting as the government for the colonies, declared independence from Britain and appointed George Washington as commander in chief of the American army. Franklin was one of five...
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...[pic][pic]Table of contents Table of Contents Introduction to Benjamin Franklin, Inventions & Successes Inventions & Successes Inventions & Successes, Birth of Franklin History of Growing up as a child Family and Marriage Life Death of Franklin and his Family Sayings from Franklin Sayings from Franklin Personal overview of Franklin as a Leader Work Cited Page An Amazing Leader: Benjamin Franklin I chose to do a report on a very well known and appreciated leader, Benjamin Franklin. This man inspires me so much, exspecially to know that he came from an eror that did not have near the wonderful tools or drive of pure pressure stemming from a horrible economy as we have today.He was still determined and able to accomplish new and exciting experiments and inventions. Not only was Benjamin an amazing leader but he also achieved many other accomplishments in several different categories from religion to public safety, you name it this amazing leader did it. It almost seems as though there was nothing he could not do. Some of many of Franklins successful areas were: SCIENCE - Noted 18th Century Scientist (Archbold, n.d.) INVENTOR - Stove, lightning rod, bifocals and many others... MEDICINE - Founded 1st U.S. Hospital BANKING - Well known for maxims on thrift AGRICULTURE - Introduced several crops to U.S. PRINTING - Noted Colonial printer - "Patron Saint of Printing" ...
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...Benjamin Franklin John Doe University of Phoenix LDR-531/Leadership February 8, 2014 Professor: Jane Doe Benjamin Franklin According to the Franklin Institute (n.d.), “Today, America's leadership and government are found in Washington, DC. In the late 1700s, that leadership was in Philadelphia because that's where Ben Franklin was” (para. 4). I am a great admirer of Benjamin Franklin. A polymath, Franklin never stopped learning. His numerous accomplishments include cofounding the first hospital in North America, organizing Philadelphia's first fire company and founding the first circulating library, the Library Company of Philadelphia (La Fon, 2013). These endeavors could not be done alone. Says the National Lightning Safety Institute, “Many of Franklin's achievements involved motivating other people towards his goals. He was successful in accomplishing many things because he enlisted the help of others” (Knowing How to Motivate Others Tactfully). To bring his ideas into reality, Franklin had to use a form of leadership to transmit and instill his vision in others. I desire to emulate his leadership style in order to be successful in my next vocation. Franklin the Leader Franklin embodies every attribute of a charismatic leader as laid out in Leadership in Organizations. His novel and appealing visions lead to the creation of the Franklin stove, bifocals, the odometer and swimming fins as well as the discovery of...
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...Benjamin Franklin, 1706-1790, printer, scientist, statesman, wrote an Autobiography that poses a riddle never completely solved: How could such an incomplete, disjointed, inaccurate, mangled manuscript be so perennially popular? Translated into dozens of languages and reprinted in hundreds of editions, it continues to be one of the most successful books of all time, even though Franklin himself is sometimes viewed with suspicion by the haters of industry and frugality. An answer to the riddle of the Autobiography is partially hinted at by the ways in which it has been described, for if it has not been all things to all men, it has at least been remarkable to most men who have read it. Its most admired qualities have changed as fashions, philosophies, and needs have changed. But, significantly, the book continues to survive such changes From the first line, Franklin's Autobiography illustrates the complex character of the man who wrote it, not only through the facts it states but also through the attitudes it reveals. The productive tension in Franklin's nature between the lighthearted and the earnest is evident by the end of the first paragraph. While Franklin starts his account as a paternal (and presumably chatty) letter to his son, he soon begins the formal statement about his worthy purposes — the rationalizations for the work to follow — which one expects of highly serious eighteenth-century treatises. But after presenting three respectable reasons for writing, Franklin...
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...Justin Coleman CP 102 22, March 2017 The different views on success Merriam Webster describes success as an attainment of wealth, favor, or eminence. Everyone has a different idea of success and Mary Wollstonecraft and Benjamin Franklin are no exception. Mary Wollstonecraft views gender equality as success especially within education. Benjamin Franklin views success as a personal accomplishment coming from a strong work ethic. While Mary Wollstonecraft and Benjamin Franklin ideas of success are very different, both ultimately focused on bettering themselves, whether it be education or hard work. Mary Wollstonecraft grew up without a stable family and her parents left her and her sisters to live on their own. Her father was a heavy drinker;...
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...Benjamin Franklin David Duron AP Psychology 5th Hour Mr. Compton April 12, 2013 Benjamin Franklin was a very astonishing man who accomplished many things not only for America as a politician and Founding Father, but for all of humanity. Our father of electricity is known and remembered for many things, poet, for being and inventor, a mediator, and probably best known for flying a kite with a key tied on during a lightning storm. Franklin was the son of a Bostonian soap boiler, born on January 17, 1706 the eighth child of ten. His parents were Josiah Franklin, and Abiah Folger Franklin. Abiah franklin was the second wife of Josiah and raised his late wife’s eight, and her own ten children, eighteen total Franklin children. Abiah was born in Nantucket Massachusetts and raised as a Puritan, which had influence on young Benjamin. Not to a lot of other extended information is known about his mother (NSDAR). His father Josiah was born in England in 1657 and migrated to Boston for more religious freedom. Again not too much information is known about his father as well. Josiah had a very influential role in Benjamin’s life. The most noted is that he encouraged all of his children to pursue an honest and worthwhile trade after attaining an education. He was certain that Benjamin was going to be a minister but could only afford two years of schooling (Shmoop). Placed at the Boston Latin School, these two short years made him ten and gave him a heightened need for reading, so...
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