B
enjamin Franklin was born in Boston in 1706.
His father could not afford many years of
schooling so instead Franklin was sent to be an
apprentice in the printing business. Franklin went to
live with his brother who had started one of the first
newspapers in Boston. Although Franklin was only an
apprentice he began writing anonymous articles and slipping them under the door of the print shop.
Franklin’s letters, published under the pen name “Silence Dogood” became wildly popular in Boston.
Franklin’s older brother was jealous of the fame that the young apprentice had earned. He soon
drove him to run away. Franklin went first to New York and then to Philadelphia until he found work in
another print shop. Franklin was a better printer than the man he was working for and was soon running
the paper and earning money.
In 1729, Benjamin Franklin purchased a newspaper
called the Pennsylvania Gazette. Franklin was the owner,
printer and editor as well as one of the writers. The Gazette
soon became the most popular paper in the colonies.
Franklin’s paper even published one of the first political
cartoons which was drawn by Franklin himself.
Franklin found success in the newspaper business and
soon began printing almanacs. Almanacs were published yearly
and contained elements like advice columns, weather reports,
recipes and predictions for the next year. Franklin published his almanac under the pen name Poor
Richard’s Almanac. Famous phrases like “a penny saved is a penny earned” came from Poor Richard’s.
Franklin loved to read but recognized that books were scarce. He founded
the first library so that people could share their collections. Benjamin Franklin was also remembered as
a great inventor. Franklin is credited with inventing a wood burning stove called the “Franklin Stove”,
bifocals and swim fins. His famous kite experiment proved that lightning was another form of electricity.
Franklin was always interested in politics. He traveled frequently
between England and the colonies in the years leading up to the revolution.
Franklin served as a representative in the second Continental Congress
and worked on the committee that wrote the Declaration of Independence.
Franklin signed the Declaration and
then traveled to France to help convince
the French king to enter the war. Franklin persuaded the French and then
was on hand to sign the Peace Treaty in Paris in 1783. Franklin then
returned home and served in the government of the State of Pennsylvania.
Franklin continued to sit in the Continental Congress. He signed the
Constitution in 1787. He remained a politician and a writer. His final act of
public service was publishing an anti-slaver pamphlet in 1789 before he died
the following year in 1790. Franklin was 84 years old when he died.
Name: ______________________________
Benjamin Franklin Assignment
Task: Read the passage entitled “Benjamin Franklin” and then use the information to answer the
following questions. This assignment is worth 10 points.
1. What was Benjamin Franklin’s first occupation?
2. According to the article, Franklin sometimes wrote anonymously under pen names. List
one of the pen names that Benjamin Franklin used and when / where he used it.
3. Name TWO of the important political documents that Benjamin Franklin signed.
4. Think Question – Name AND explain the two contributions or accomplishments of
Benjamin Franklin which you think were most important. Be specific.