Benjamin Franklin

A penny saved is a penny earned. - Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin was born on January 17, 1706 in Boston, what was then known as the Massachusetts Bay Colony. His father, Josiah Franklin, a soap and candle maker, had 17 children, seven with his first wife, Anne Child, and 10 with second wife Abiah Folger. Benjamin was his 15th child and the last son. 

Despite his success at the Boston Latin School, Ben was removed at 10 to work with his father at candle making, but dipping wax and cutting wicks didn’t fire his imagination. Later Ben escaped from New York, but settling in Philadelphia, which was his home base for the rest of his life.

Franklin later was able to purchase The Pennsylvania Gazette newspaper from a former boss, and was elected the official printer of Pennsylvania. He was also able to take Deborah Read as his common-law wife in 1730.Franklin’s prominence and success grew during the 1730s (in his 20s), especially with the publication of Poor Richard’s Almanack at the end of 1732.  In the 1740s, Franklin was getting into inventing. He invented the Franklin stove and did the famous kite&key experiment.

Much has been made of Franklin’s life in Paris as essentially the first U.S. ambassador to France, chiefly his romantic life. Deborah, his wife of 44 years, died in 1774, two years before he accepted the post. Franklin had a rich romantic life in his nine years abroad. His adept diplomacy led to the peace treaty with England in 1783. Sadly, Benjamin Franklin died on April 17, 1790 at the age of 84, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Reference

1. Benjamin Franklin from Biography
2. Google Search