Biography
The Life of
Benjamin Franklin
© 2003–2013 ww
lin was born
k
n
a
r
F
in
m
Benja
06. When he
7
1
in
n
o
t
s
in Bo
old, Franklin
s
r
a
e
y
2
1
wa s
he printing
t
g
in
n
r
a
le
n
be g a
ge o f 17, he
a
e
h
t
t
A
.
e
t ra d
er
delphia. L at
a
il
h
P
o
t
d
e
mov
own printing
is
h
d
e
t
r
a
t
he s
a
lso star t ed
a
e
H
.
s
s
e
in
bus
klin
1732, Fran
In
r.
e
p
a
p
s
new
d
s book calle
u
o
m
a
f
a
e
t
wro
Almanack.
's
d
r
a
h
ic
R
r
Poo
w.legendsofame
rica.com
A Man with New Ideas
Franklin was the first to do many
things. He started the first library
in America that let people borrow
books. Franklin started the first fire
department and the first hospital in
Philadelphia. He also found better
ways to deliver mail.
Franklin was a scientist and inventor,
too. He invented a stove that helped
keep homes warm. It was called a
Franklin stove.
(continues on next page)
© Developmental Studies Center
1
Franklin also invented swim fins
and a kind of glasses called bifocals.
In addition, he did experiments to
prove that lightning is electricity.
Then he invented the lightning rod.
It protected ships and buildings
from lightning strikes. Many of
Franklin’s inventions are still used
by people today.
A Respected Leader
When Franklin died in 1790, he was
84 years old. About 20,000 people
went to the great man’s funeral.
Franklin touched so many parts of
life in early America. He was a man
of intelligence who served his country
and its people in many ways. Some
people call him “the first American.”
lightning rod
bifocals
© iStockphoto.co
m/kodachrome2
swim fins
5
© 2013 Thinkstock. All righ
Franklin stove
swim fins: © Copyright 1999–2013 Getty Images/Allentown Morning Call. All rights reserved.
bifocals: © Copyright 1999–2013 Getty Images/Science and Society Picture Library. All rights reserved.
Over time, Franklin came to believe
that the American states should break
free of England. He helped to write
the Declaration of Independence.
After signing it in 1776, Franklin
went to France. He asked the
French king to help the states fight
the Revolutionary War against the
British. The French admired Franklin
for his scientific work. They respected
his many other talents. The French
king agreed to help.
Once the American states won the
war, Franklin returned home. He
helped to write the Constitution
of the United States. Franklin also
helped the states reach agreement
about how the new government
would be run. Without his ability to
help people compromise, the states
might never have agreed about the
new government.
ts reserved.
© Developmental Studies Center
2
Biography
The Life of
Benjamin Franklin
© 2003–2013 ww
lin was born
k
n
a
r
F
in
m
Benja
06. When he
7
1
in
n
o
t
s
in Bo
old, Franklin
s
r
a
e
y
2
1
wa s
he printing
t
g
in
n
r
a
le
n
be g a
ge o f 17, he
a
e
h
t
t
A
.
e
t ra d
er
delphia. L at
a
il
h
P
o
t
d
e
mov
own printing
is
h
d
e
t
r
a
t
he s
a
lso star t ed
a
e
H
.
s
s
e
in
bus
klin
1732, Fran
In
r.
e
p
a
p
s
new
d
s book calle
u
o
m
a
f
a
e
t
wro
Almanack.
's
d
r
a
h
ic
R
r
Poo
w.legendsofame
rica.com
A Man with New Ideas
Franklin was the first to do many
things. He started the first library
in America that let people borrow
books. Franklin started the first fire
department and the first hospital in
Philadelphia. He also found better
ways to deliver mail.
Franklin was a scientist and inventor,
too. He invented a stove that helped
keep homes warm. It was called a
Franklin stove.
(continues on next page)
© Developmental Studies Center
1
Franklin also invented swim fins
and a kind of glasses called bifocals.
In addition, he did experiments to
prove that lightning is electricity.
Then he invented the lightning rod.
It protected ships and buildings
from lightning strikes. Many of
Franklin’s inventions are still used
by people today.
A Respected Leader
When Franklin died in 1790, he was
84 years old. About 20,000 people
went to the great man’s funeral.
Franklin touched so many parts of
life in early America. He was a man
of intelligence who served his country
and its people in many ways. Some
people call him “the first American.”
lightning rod
bifocals
© iStockphoto.co
m/kodachrome2
swim fins
5
© 2013 Thinkstock. All righ
Franklin stove
swim fins: © Copyright 1999–2013 Getty Images/Allentown Morning Call. All rights reserved.
bifocals: © Copyright 1999–2013 Getty Images/Science and Society Picture Library. All rights reserved.
Over time, Franklin came to believe
that the American states should break
free of England. He helped to write
the Declaration of Independence.
After signing it in 1776, Franklin
went to France. He asked the
French king to help the states fight
the Revolutionary War against the
British. The French admired Franklin
for his scientific work. They respected
his many other talents. The French
king agreed to help.
Once the American states won the
war, Franklin returned home. He
helped to write the Constitution
of the United States. Franklin also
helped the states reach agreement
about how the new government
would be run. Without his ability to
help people compromise, the states
might never have agreed about the
new government.
ts reserved.
© Developmental Studies Center
2