Benjamin Franklin :: Biography Biographies Benjamin Franklin Essays

benzoin FranklinIn his many careers as a printer, moralist, essaylist, civicleader, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, andphilosopher, Benjamin Franklin Became two a spokesmanand a model for the national character of later generationsof Americans. after(prenominal) less than two socio-economic classs of formalschooling, Franklin was pressed into his fathers trade. Atthe suppurate of 16, Franklin wrote some pieces in acourant,Silence Dogwood. Though penniless andunknown, Franklin curtly found a job as a printer. Aafter ayear he went to England, where he became a masterprinter, sowed some wild oats, astonish Londoners withhis swimming feats, and lived among the far-famed writers ofLondon. In 17227, Franklin began his career as a civicleader by organizing a club of aspiring tradesmen called theJJunto, which met each calendar week for discussion and planning.Franklin began yet another career when in 1740 heinvented the pascal fireplace, later called the Franklinstove, w hich soon heated buildings all over Europe and northmost America. He also read treaties on electricity and andbegan a serial publication of experiments with his friends inPhiladelphia. Experiments he proposed, first tried in Francein 1752, showed that lightning was in fact a form of electricity. Later that year his famous kite experiment, inwhich he flew a kite with the wire accustomed to a key duringa thunderstorm. His later achievements included formulatinga opening of heat absorption, measuring Gulf Stream,designing ships, tracking storm paths, and inventing centrallenses. In 1751, Franklin was elected to the PennsylvaniaAssembly, causing the beginning of nearly 40 years as apuublic official. At home from 1762 to 1764, Franklintraveled throghout the colonies, reorganizing theAAmerican postal system. He also built aa new house on grocery Street in Philadelphia, now reconstructed and opento visitors, and otherwise provided for his family. FromApril 1775 to October 1776, Franklin served on thePennsylvania Committee of Safety and in the ContinentalCongress, submitted articles of confederation for the coupledcolonies, proposed a new constitution for Pennsylvania,and helped draft the Decclaration of Independence.