Guide Note

Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He was a leading author, political theorist, politician, printer, scientist, inventor, civic activist, diplomat and one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

As a scientist, Franklin invented the lightning rod, bifocals, the Franklin stove, a carriage odometer and the glass harmonica. He founded the first lending library and fire department in Pennsylvania and was an early supporter of colonial unity. As a diplomat, it was his securing of an alliance with the French that help make U.S. independence possible.

Franklin wrote, edited and published Poor Richard's Almanack and the Pennsylvania Gazette. Both endeavors made him a wealthy man. He was elected the first president of the American Philosophical Society, the Postmaster General to the Continental Congress and the President of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania.

In his waning years, he became a prominent abolitionist.

Fast Facts

1. Born: January 17, 1706 in Boston, Massachusetts
2. Spouse: Deborah Read
3. Notable Position Held: U.S. Ambassador to Sweden (1782-1783), U.S. Ambassador to France (1778-1785)
4. Author of Poor Richard's Almanac
5. Founder of the American Philosophical Society
6. Inventor of the Bifocals, the Franklin stove and the Glass Armonica
7. Helped draft of the Declaration of Independence
8. Signer of the United States Constitution
9. Died: April 17, 1790

• January 17, 1706: Born in Boston
• 1728: Composes Articles of Belief and Acts of Religion
• 1730: Marries Deborah Read Rogers
• 1731: Joins the St. Johns Freemasons Lodge
• 1737: Appointed Postmaster of Philadelphia
• 1741: Advertises the "Franklin Stove"
• 1752: Conducts kite experiment
• 1765: Charts Gulf Stream
• 1784: Invents bifocals
• 1787: Signs the United States Constitution
• April 17, 1790: Dies in Philadelphia