Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston Massachusetts on January 17, 1706. His father was Josiah Franklin, his mother was Abiah Folger. The second wife of Josiah. In all, Josiah would have 17 children. Ben was the fifteenth child.
Benjamin's dad wanted him to be a minister. However, Josiah could only afford to send his son to school for one year of schooling and ministers needed four years of schooling. Despite his success at the Boston Latin School, Ben was removed at age 10 to work with his father at a candle making shop. But dipping wax and cutting wicks didn’t fire ben's imagination.
Perhaps to warn him from going to sea as one of his brothers had done. Josiah apprenticed Ben at age 12 to his brother James, at his print shop. After helping James compose pamphlets and set type which was grueling work, 12-year-old Benjamin would sell their products in the streets.
Even as a boy, Ben Franklin loved to read. Once, he read a book about swimming and quickly taught himself the basic swimming strokes. He built himself wooden paddles for his hands and feet to help him swim faster. He used a kite in the breeze to pull along, making it easier to swim. Later, he read a book about eating meat and decided to try being a vegetarian. He figured it was healthier, but also that he could save money.
Benjamin Franklin organized the United States’ first lending library and volunteer fire department. His scientific pursuits included investigations into electricity, mathematics and mapmaking. He helped draft the Declaration of Independence and the U.S Constitution. He also negotiated the 1783 Treaty of Paris, which marked the end of the Revolutionary War.
Benjamin had many very important inventions and contributions to science like bifocals. Ben had poor vision and needed glasses to read. He got tired of constantly taking them off and putting them back on, so he decided to figure out a way to make his glasses let him see both near and far. He had two pairs of spectacles cut in half and put half of each lens in a single frame.
He also had many other inventions like the lightning rod, the franklin stove, and an odometer. Later, other famous inventors, like Tomas Edison and Alexander Graham bell would follow in his footsteps by trying to find ways to help people live better.
Benjamin's dad wanted him to be a minister. However, Josiah could only afford to send his son to school for one year of schooling and ministers needed four years of schooling. Despite his success at the Boston Latin School, Ben was removed at age 10 to work with his father at a candle making shop. But dipping wax and cutting wicks didn’t fire ben's imagination.
Perhaps to warn him from going to sea as one of his brothers had done. Josiah apprenticed Ben at age 12 to his brother James, at his print shop. After helping James compose pamphlets and set type which was grueling work, 12-year-old Benjamin would sell their products in the streets.
Even as a boy, Ben Franklin loved to read. Once, he read a book about swimming and quickly taught himself the basic swimming strokes. He built himself wooden paddles for his hands and feet to help him swim faster. He used a kite in the breeze to pull along, making it easier to swim. Later, he read a book about eating meat and decided to try being a vegetarian. He figured it was healthier, but also that he could save money.
Benjamin Franklin organized the United States’ first lending library and volunteer fire department. His scientific pursuits included investigations into electricity, mathematics and mapmaking. He helped draft the Declaration of Independence and the U.S Constitution. He also negotiated the 1783 Treaty of Paris, which marked the end of the Revolutionary War.
Benjamin had many very important inventions and contributions to science like bifocals. Ben had poor vision and needed glasses to read. He got tired of constantly taking them off and putting them back on, so he decided to figure out a way to make his glasses let him see both near and far. He had two pairs of spectacles cut in half and put half of each lens in a single frame.
He also had many other inventions like the lightning rod, the franklin stove, and an odometer. Later, other famous inventors, like Tomas Edison and Alexander Graham bell would follow in his footsteps by trying to find ways to help people live better.