![](media/image1.jpeg){width="2.4277777777777776in"
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[1777](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1777) [Jean-Baptiste
Greuze](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Baptiste_Greuze) portrait of
**Franklin**

Courtesy: Wikipedia

**Benjamin Franklin** ([January
17](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_17)
\[[O.S.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Style_and_New_Style_dates)
[January 6](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_6)\]
[1706](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1706) -- [April
17](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_17),
[1790](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1790)) was one of the best-known
[Founding
Fathers](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Founding_Fathers_of_the_United_States)
of the [United States](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States). He
was a leading author, political theorist, politician, printer,
scientist, inventor, civic activist, and diplomat. As a scientist he was
a major figure in the [history of
physics](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_physics) for his
discoveries and theories regarding
[electricity](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity). As a political
writer and activist he, more than anyone, invented the idea of an
American nation, and as a diplomat during the [American
Revolution](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Revolution), he
secured the [French
alliance](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franco-American_relations) that
helped to make independence possible.

Born in [Boston,
Massachusetts](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston%2C_Massachusetts),
Franklin learned printing from his older brother and became a newspaper
editor, printer, and merchant in
[Philadelphia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philadelphia), becoming very
wealthy. He spent many years in England and published the famous [Poor
Richard\'s Almanac](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poor_Richard's_Almanac)
and the [Pennsylvania
Gazette](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania_Gazette_(newspaper)).
He formed both the first [public lending
library](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_library) and [fire
department](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_department) in America as
well as the [Junto](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junto), a political
discussion club. During this period he wrote in favor of paper money,
against [mercantilist](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercantilist)
policies such as the [Iron Act](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Act)
of 1750, and also drafted, in 1754, the [Albany Plan of
Union](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albany_Plan_of_Union), which would
have created a continental legislature; demonstrating how early he
conceived of the colonies as being naturally one political unit.

Franklin became a [national
hero](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_hero) in America when he
spearheaded the effort to have
[Parliament](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_of_the_United_Kingdom)
repeal the unpopular [Stamp
Act](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stamp_Act_1765). From 1775 to 1776,
Franklin was [Postmaster
General](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postmaster_General_of_the_United_States)
under the [Continental
Congress](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continental_Congress) and from
1785 to his death in 1790 was [President of the Supreme Executive
Council of
Pennsylvania](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governor_of_Pennsylvania).
Toward the end of his life, he became one of the most prominent
[abolitionists](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abolitionism).

Franklin was interested in science and technology, carrying out his
famous electricity experiments and inventing. He also played a major
role in establishing the [University of
Pennsylvania](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Pennsylvania)
and [Franklin and Marshall
College](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_and_Marshall_College).
Franklin was fluent in five languages.