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Benjamin Franklin<br />
Franklin was a statesman, diplomat, writer, scientist and inventor, one of the most versatile and talented<br />
men in colonial America and a leading figure in the American struggle for independence.<br />
Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston on 17 January 1706. He attended school only briefly, and then helped his<br />
father, who was a candle and soap maker. He was apprenticed to his brother, a printer, and began writing<br />
anonymously for his brother's newspaper. Franklin and his brother quarrelled, and in 1723 Franklin ran away to<br />
Philadelphia. After 18 months in London, Franklin settled in Philadelphia, establishing himself as a printer. He bought<br />
the<br />
'Pennsylvania Gazette', which he edited and which became one of the American colonies' major newspapers. He also<br />
wrote and published 'Poor Richard's Almanack', an astronomy journal.<br />
By 1748, Franklin had made enough money to retire from business and concentrate on science and inventing. His<br />
inventions included the Franklin stove and the lightning rod. He demonstrated that lightning and electricity are<br />
identical with his famous kite experiment. Franklin also became more active in politics. He was clerk of the<br />
Pennsylvania Assembly (1736-1751), a member of the Assembly (1750-1764), and deputy postmaster for the Colonies<br />
(1753-1774), reorganising the postal service to make it efficient and profitable.<br />
Franklin was also involved in many public projects, including founding the American Philosophical Society, a<br />
subscription library and, in 1751, an academy which later became the University of Pennsylvania.<br />
Page 28<br />
Honesty is the best policy.<br />
From 1757 to 1774, Franklin lived mainly in London where he was the colonial representative for Pennsylvania,<br />
Georgia, New Jersey and Massachusetts. His attempts to reconcile the British government with the colonies proved<br />
fruitless. On his return to America, the war of independence had already broken out and he threw himself into the<br />
struggle. In 1776, he helped to draft, and was then a signatory to, the Declaration of Independence. His illegitimate<br />
son William, royal governor of New Jersey between 1762 and 1776, remained loyal to Britain, causing a rift that<br />
lasted for the rest of Franklin's life.<br />
Later that year, Franklin and two others were appointed to represent America in France. Franklin negotiated the<br />
Franco-American Alliance which provided for military cooperation between the two countries against Britain and<br />
ensured significant French subsidies to America. In 1783, as American ambassador to France, Franklin signed the<br />
Treaty of Paris, ending the American War of Independence. He was extremely popular and well known in France, but in<br />
1785 returned to America. He continued to be deeply involved in politics, helping to draft the Constitution.<br />
Franklin died in Philadelphia on 17 April 1790.<br />
Abhi Sharma