Benjamin Franklin – The First American
Benjamin Franklin, a name synonymous with ingenuity, statesmanship, and the very spirit of early America, stands as a towering figure in the annals of history. He wasn’t just a Founding Father; he was, as he came to be known, "The First American," a man whose tireless efforts toward colonial unity and diverse talents shaped the nascent United States. Born into humble beginnings, Benjamin Franklin’s life was a testament to the power of self-improvement, intellectual curiosity, and unwavering dedication to the common good.
His story begins in Boston, Massachusetts, on January 17, 1706. The fifteenth of seventeen children born to Josiah Franklin, a candle maker and soap boiler, young Benjamin’s early life was far from privileged. His father, initially envisioning a career in the clergy for his son, enrolled him in grammar school at the tender age of eight. While Benjamin demonstrated remarkable aptitude, the financial burden of his education soon led to his withdrawal before the end of his first year. He was then placed in a school focused on practical skills such as writing and arithmetic, though the latter proved a challenge for him.
At the age of ten, Benjamin Franklin began working in his father’s shop, a world of candle wicks, tallow molds, and soap sales. He also served as an errand boy, a far cry from the intellectual pursuits he craved. The bustling Boston Harbor, with its ships arriving and departing, ignited his imagination and a yearning for adventure. He dreamed of becoming a sailor, escaping the drudgery of the candle shop for a life at sea. However, his father, recognizing his son’s potential, wisely forbade it. Despite this, Franklin’s fascination with the water remained, leading him to become a skilled swimmer, rower, and sailor, excelling in these activities and emerging as a leader among his peers.
Despite his dislike for candle-making and his fondness for play, Benjamin Franklin remained diligent in his father’s service. His inherent industry, coupled with a deep love for books and an insatiable thirst for knowledge, compensated for his limited formal education. He dedicated his free time to reading, saving his meager earnings to build a personal library.
Recognizing his son’s intellectual leanings, Josiah apprenticed Benjamin to his older brother, James, a printer in Boston. This proved to be a pivotal moment in Franklin’s life. Bound to serve until the age of twenty-one, without pay until his final year, Benjamin found himself surrounded by books and the world of printing. He seized this opportunity, reading late into the night, devouring borrowed books that needed to be returned in the morning. He even tried his hand at writing, composing verses and selling them in the streets, though his father’s ridicule soon discouraged him.
Seeking to acquire more books, he made an agreement with his brother to board himself on half the money previously allocated for his meals. He subsisted on a meager diet, often consisting of a biscuit or slice of bread and a few raisins, allowing him to spend the noon hour reading. This frugal lifestyle enabled him to save money, which he promptly invested in expanding his personal library.
Benjamin Franklin’s youth was marked by a profound respect for time and a commitment to saving money. He understood that the easiest way to accumulate wealth was to conserve what he already possessed. However, this period was also characterized by hardship. His brother was a stern and often cruel taskmaster, subjecting Benjamin to physical abuse. Growing disagreements between the brothers ultimately led Benjamin to the decision to run away and seek his fortune elsewhere. Selling some of his books to raise money, he secured passage on a sloop bound for New York at the age of seventeen.
Upon arriving in New York, friendless and nearly penniless, he sought work at the local printing offices. Finding no opportunities, he was advised to try his luck in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The journey to Philadelphia, a mere ninety miles, was arduous. He first sailed from New York to Amboy, New Jersey, encountering a storm that damaged the sails and forced the boat to the Long Island shore. He spent the night in the hold, enduring the relentless waves. After thirty hours without food or water, he finally landed in Amboy. Lacking the funds for coach fare, he embarked on a fifty-mile walk across New Jersey to Burlington, enduring heavy rain for over two days. Reaching an inn, his bedraggled appearance raised suspicions, leading to concerns that he might be a runaway servant.
Arriving in Burlington, he still had twenty miles to travel to Philadelphia. He boarded a boat for the final leg of his journey, taking turns rowing with the other passengers due to the lack of wind. The next day, he reached Philadelphia, a poorly dressed and travel-worn young man with little money in his pocket, navigating the streets alone, yet filled with hope.
He quickly found employment with one of the two master printers in Philadelphia. One day, while working in the printing office, he received a visit from Sir William Keith, the Governor of Pennsylvania. The Governor, having heard of the seventeen-year-old Franklin through his brother-in-law, encouraged him to start his own printing press. When Franklin explained that he lacked the funds to purchase the necessary equipment, the Governor offered to write a letter to Franklin’s father in Boston, requesting a loan. The following spring, Franklin presented the letter to his father, who refused to provide the money.
Upon his return to Philadelphia, Governor Keith advised him to travel to England to acquire a printing press and other essential equipment, promising to provide the necessary funds. Franklin accepted the offer and sailed for London, expecting to receive the money upon arrival. However, the Governor failed to honor his promise, leaving Franklin stranded in a foreign city. Once again without friends or money, he found work in a printing office, where he remained for the two years of his stay in London.
After saving enough money, he finally returned to Philadelphia in 1726. Four years later, in 1730, the twenty-four-year-old Benjamin Franklin publicly acknowledged his illegitimate son, William, who would later become the last Loyalist governor of New Jersey. That same year, on September 1, 1730, he entered into a common-law marriage with Deborah Read. The couple took in Franklin’s young son, William, and later had two children of their own.
Meanwhile, he had established his own printing business, incurring a significant debt. He worked tirelessly to repay it, even making his own ink and casting his own type. He would often transport paper to the printing office using a wheelbarrow. His wife assisted him by selling stationery in the shop, and the family lived modestly.
Witnessing Franklin’s dedication, people remarked, "There is a man who will surely succeed. Let us help him." During these challenging early years, Franklin remained cheerful and continued his reading habits, striving for self-improvement. He also adopted a set of guiding principles, including temperance, honesty, orderliness, frugality, industry, and resolve.
Some of Benjamin Franklin’s most insightful observations appeared in his Poor Richard’s Almanac. Starting at the age of twenty-six, he published it annually for twenty-five years, achieving a wide circulation. The almanac contained numerous practical maxims that remain relevant today.
Beyond his personal pursuits, Benjamin Franklin possessed a deep commitment to public welfare. He established a subscription library in Philadelphia and founded an academy that eventually evolved into the University of Pennsylvania. With his practical mindset, he played a crucial role in organizing a more effective police force and fire department. He invented the Franklin stove, a significant improvement over the open fireplace. However, his most remarkable achievement was proving that lightning was a form of electricity.
Before this discovery, scientists had learned to store electricity in a Leyden jar. Franklin sought to understand the nature of lightning during thunderstorms. He constructed a kite from silk, attaching a small iron rod to it. He then connected a hemp string to the kite and the iron rod, with an iron key fastened at the end of the hemp string. A silk string, which does not conduct electricity, was tied to the key and held by Franklin, protecting him from the electric current.
During a thunderstorm, he went out with his son and positioned himself under a shelter in an open field. As the kite ascended into the air, the fibers of the hemp string began to move. When Franklin placed his knuckles near the key, he drew forth sparks of electricity. This confirmed his hypothesis that lightning was the same phenomenon as the electricity produced by machines. This groundbreaking discovery earned him recognition from leading universities in Europe, awarding him the title of Doctor and solidifying his status as one of the world’s great minds.
Franklin served his country with numerous distinguished public services. He recognized the lack of unity among the colonies as a major weakness. In 1754, amidst the threat of French encroachment in the Ohio Valley, he proposed his renowned "Plan of Union." Although the plan was ultimately unsuccessful, it laid the groundwork for colonial unity during the struggle against King George and the English Parliament.
Ten years later, Franklin was sent to England to prevent the passage of the Stamp Act. While he failed to achieve this objective, he later played a significant role in securing its repeal. Returning from England shortly after the Battle of Lexington and Concord, he immediately became actively involved in the Revolution. He was appointed to a committee of five to draft the Declaration of Independence. During their deliberations, he famously quipped, "Yes, we must indeed all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately."
After signing the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, he was sent to France to seek support for the American cause. The French people welcomed him warmly, showering him with feasts, parades, and widespread displays of his portrait. His simplicity and sincerity captivated the French, endearing him to their hearts. His efforts secured crucial aid from France, contributions that rivaled those of George Washington in their significance.
Franklin departed France in 1785, after representing his country for ten years. The French people were saddened by his departure. Due to his difficulty enduring carriage rides, the King provided him with one of the Queen’s litters to transport him to the coast. He also received a portrait of the King of France, framed with four hundred and eight diamonds.
Despite enduring illness and pain in his later years, he remained patient and cheerful, embracing life until the very end. He died on April 17, 1790, at the age of eighty-four, a testament to a life lived with purpose and dedication.
As a scientist, he was a key figure in the American Enlightenment, renowned for his discoveries and theories about electricity. He invented the lightning rod, bifocals, the Franklin stove, a carriage odometer, and the glass armonica. He established the first public lending library in America and the first fire department in Pennsylvania. Despite his international acclaim as a scientist and diplomat, he simply identified himself as "Benjamin Franklin, Printer" in his will, a humble reminder of his roots and the foundation upon which his extraordinary life was built.