England and the colonial legislatures balked at the plan.įrustrated with a lack of progress in negotiations with the proprietors over taxes, which they were exempt from paying, the Assembly sent Franklin to London in 1757 to plead its case. Faced with threats on the western frontier from the French and native tribes, Franklin attended the Albany Conference where he proposed a national congress. The proprietors stood for elite privilege, which Franklin detested, and thus he sided with the Assembly in power struggles against them. Two decisions shaped his future, namely, his opposition to the proprietors of Pennsylvania who governed the colony and his efforts to unite the colonies. In 1751, Franklin entered politics, winning a seat in the Pennsylvania Assembly. In his day, many considered him the world’s best scientist. Franklin made several other scientific discoveries that had practical benefits for humankind. His theories about lightning and the use of metal rods to tame it won him international fame, as lightning had been a scourge previously. Isaacson stresses the important contribution Franklin made to science, particularly in the area of electricity. Franklin was able to retire from the printing industry at the age of 42.Īfter he retired from business, Franklin could indulge his scientific curiosity. The Almanack was very successful and pioneered a particularly American form of folksy humor. He published Poor Richard’s Almanack for the first time in 1732. He not only published a newspaper but was also named postmaster and won the contract to print official documents. In time, Franklin succeeded in besting his rivals and built a media empire. So, using his writing skills and shrewd business instincts, Franklin soon opened his own shop. He found work in London’s printing industry and returned to Philadelphia when a merchant paid his fare in exchange for Franklin’s promise to work for him.įranklin’s sponsor died soon after he arrived in Philadelphia. Once there, Franklin discovered that the funds would not be forthcoming. He dispatched Franklin to London to purchase the equipment. Impressed with Franklin, the governor, Sir William Keith, offered to fund a shop of Franklin’s own. Chafing under the authority of his brother, Franklin ran away at age 17 to Philadelphia where he arrived virtually penniless. These highly successful essays demonstrated Franklin’s wit and ability to write in a conversational style. Knowing that his brother would not print his work, Franklin submitted a series of essays anonymously under the pen name Silence Dogood.

That occupation was a perfect fit for Franklin given his outstanding writing skills and intellectual curiosity. He apprenticed as a printer in his brother James’s shop. Born in Puritan Boston on January 17, 1706, Benjamin Franklin was the youngest son in his family.

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