Excerpt
Chapter 1: Meet Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin was a man who seemed to do everything. He was a printer, a writer, a scientist, an inventor, a businessman, and a leader in the fight for American independence. He didn’t come from a wealthy family, and he didn’t have much formal schooling, but that didn’t stop him from becoming one of the most influential people in history.
He was born in Boston in 1706, the fifteenth of seventeen children. Life in a big family meant sharing everything—food, clothes, space, and chores. His father, Josiah Franklin, made soap and candles, and he expected his sons to help in the family business. But young Ben had no interest in spending his days melting tallow and dipping wicks. He wanted to read, learn, and explore new ideas.
Books fascinated him. At a time when many children didn’t even know how to read, he devoured every book he could find. When his father decided that Ben should become a preacher, he sent him to school. But money was tight, and after only two years, Ben’s formal education ended. That didn’t stop him. If he couldn’t go to school, he would teach himself.
By the age of 12, Ben had a job as an apprentice at his older brother James’s print shop. It was hard work—long hours spent setting type, operating the press, and delivering newspapers around town. His brother could be strict, but Ben didn’t mind. The shop gave him access to more books. At night, after the work was done, he would borrow books from local merchants, reading late into the night before returning them early in the morning.
Printing wasn’t just about books. It was also about news, ideas, and opinions. His brother’s newspaper, The New-England Courant, often printed bold and controversial opinions about the government and society. Ben wanted to write for the paper, but James wouldn’t let him. A 16-year-old apprentice wasn’t exactly a respected journalist. Instead of giving up, Ben came up with a clever plan.
Under the name “Silence Dogood,” he wrote a series of letters and secretly slipped them under the print shop door. The letters were full of humor and sharp observations about life in the colonies. People loved them. No one knew the witty writer behind the letters was actually a teenager. When James finally found out, he wasn’t happy. He had no interest in letting his younger brother share the spotlight. The two argued, and eventually, Ben had enough. He decided it was time to leave.
At 17, he packed up and ran away to Philadelphia. He arrived with almost no money, no job, and no place to stay. But he wasn’t the type to sit around feeling sorry for himself. He found work at a printing shop, made friends, and before long, his hard work started to pay off. He traveled to England to learn more about printing, then returned to Philadelphia and started his own print shop.
Printing gave Ben a way to earn a living, but it also gave him a way to spread ideas. He published The Pennsylvania Gazette, one of the most popular newspapers in the colonies. Then he started Poor Richard’s Almanack, a yearly book filled with weather forecasts, advice, and clever sayings like “A penny saved is a penny earned.” These sayings, called proverbs, were easy to remember and packed with wisdom. People still use many of them today.
But Ben wasn’t just a printer. He had a mind that was always full of questions. Why did lightning strike certain places more than others? Could there be a way to harness electricity? How could fires be prevented in growing cities? He wanted to solve problems, and when he saw something that needed improving, he got to work.
One of his most famous inventions was the lightning rod. At the time, people didn’t understand much about electricity, and lightning was a dangerous mystery. Buildings often caught fire when they were struck. Through experiments, Ben discovered that a metal rod placed on top of a building could safely guide lightning into the ground, preventing fires.
That wasn’t his only invention. He created bifocal glasses so he wouldn’t have to switch between two pairs of lenses. He designed a more efficient stove to help people heat their homes with less wood. He even invented a musical instrument called the glass armonica, which composers like Beethoven and Mozart later used in their music.
Beyond inventing, Ben believed in improving the world around him. He helped start the first public library, organized the first volunteer fire department, and worked to make the postal system more efficient. He believed that knowledge should be shared and that communities worked best when people helped one another.
As he got older, his curiosity didn’t fade, but his interests expanded. He became involved in politics, helping the American colonies as they struggled for independence from Britain. He helped write the Declaration of Independence, traveled to France to gain support for the war, and later played a major role in shaping the U.S. Constitution. His wisdom and experience made him one of the most respected voices of his time.
By the time he passed away in 1790, he had left behind a legacy of inventions, discoveries, and ideas that still shape the world today. He wasn’t born into wealth or power. He didn’t have the advantage of a long education. But through curiosity, hard work, and a love of learning, he became one of the most remarkable figures in history.
Benjamin Franklin was a man who seemed to do everything. He was a printer, a writer, a scientist, an inventor, a businessman, and a leader in the fight for American independence. He didn’t come from a wealthy family, and he didn’t have much formal schooling, but that didn’t stop him from becoming one of the most influential people in history.
He was born in Boston in 1706, the fifteenth of seventeen children. Life in a big family meant sharing everything—food, clothes, space, and chores. His father, Josiah Franklin, made soap and candles, and he expected his sons to help in the family business. But young Ben had no interest in spending his days melting tallow and dipping wicks. He wanted to read, learn, and explore new ideas.
Books fascinated him. At a time when many children didn’t even know how to read, he devoured every book he could find. When his father decided that Ben should become a preacher, he sent him to school. But money was tight, and after only two years, Ben’s formal education ended. That didn’t stop him. If he couldn’t go to school, he would teach himself.
By the age of 12, Ben had a job as an apprentice at his older brother James’s print shop. It was hard work—long hours spent setting type, operating the press, and delivering newspapers around town. His brother could be strict, but Ben didn’t mind. The shop gave him access to more books. At night, after the work was done, he would borrow books from local merchants, reading late into the night before returning them early in the morning.
Printing wasn’t just about books. It was also about news, ideas, and opinions. His brother’s newspaper, The New-England Courant, often printed bold and controversial opinions about the government and society. Ben wanted to write for the paper, but James wouldn’t let him. A 16-year-old apprentice wasn’t exactly a respected journalist. Instead of giving up, Ben came up with a clever plan.
Under the name “Silence Dogood,” he wrote a series of letters and secretly slipped them under the print shop door. The letters were full of humor and sharp observations about life in the colonies. People loved them. No one knew the witty writer behind the letters was actually a teenager. When James finally found out, he wasn’t happy. He had no interest in letting his younger brother share the spotlight. The two argued, and eventually, Ben had enough. He decided it was time to leave.
At 17, he packed up and ran away to Philadelphia. He arrived with almost no money, no job, and no place to stay. But he wasn’t the type to sit around feeling sorry for himself. He found work at a printing shop, made friends, and before long, his hard work started to pay off. He traveled to England to learn more about printing, then returned to Philadelphia and started his own print shop.
Printing gave Ben a way to earn a living, but it also gave him a way to spread ideas. He published The Pennsylvania Gazette, one of the most popular newspapers in the colonies. Then he started Poor Richard’s Almanack, a yearly book filled with weather forecasts, advice, and clever sayings like “A penny saved is a penny earned.” These sayings, called proverbs, were easy to remember and packed with wisdom. People still use many of them today.
But Ben wasn’t just a printer. He had a mind that was always full of questions. Why did lightning strike certain places more than others? Could there be a way to harness electricity? How could fires be prevented in growing cities? He wanted to solve problems, and when he saw something that needed improving, he got to work.
One of his most famous inventions was the lightning rod. At the time, people didn’t understand much about electricity, and lightning was a dangerous mystery. Buildings often caught fire when they were struck. Through experiments, Ben discovered that a metal rod placed on top of a building could safely guide lightning into the ground, preventing fires.
That wasn’t his only invention. He created bifocal glasses so he wouldn’t have to switch between two pairs of lenses. He designed a more efficient stove to help people heat their homes with less wood. He even invented a musical instrument called the glass armonica, which composers like Beethoven and Mozart later used in their music.
Beyond inventing, Ben believed in improving the world around him. He helped start the first public library, organized the first volunteer fire department, and worked to make the postal system more efficient. He believed that knowledge should be shared and that communities worked best when people helped one another.
As he got older, his curiosity didn’t fade, but his interests expanded. He became involved in politics, helping the American colonies as they struggled for independence from Britain. He helped write the Declaration of Independence, traveled to France to gain support for the war, and later played a major role in shaping the U.S. Constitution. His wisdom and experience made him one of the most respected voices of his time.
By the time he passed away in 1790, he had left behind a legacy of inventions, discoveries, and ideas that still shape the world today. He wasn’t born into wealth or power. He didn’t have the advantage of a long education. But through curiosity, hard work, and a love of learning, he became one of the most remarkable figures in history.