Ben Franklin Through The Ages



Jacob Ginga
US History I Honors
Block 4
Mr. Grady










Benjamin Franklin Is easily one of the most known men of his time. He has shaped the US and France even to this day, he is truly a scholar among men. His writings not only effected his own time, but continue to influence generations to come. He was clearly a Christian and that is his fundamentals grounds for many arguments. So for this small Philly born boy, the sky is the limit.

Benjamin Franklin was born the Sunday of the 5th of January in 1706. He was born in his family’s home on Milk Street Philadelphia. He was baptized at Old South church not far from his home. Historians know little of bens first 10 years but they do know he was the second oldest. Being one of 11 brothers and sisters. Clearly a chaotic childhood.

Benjamin’s close relatives moved to the US from England. His father was born in January of 1658. Historians are unsure of the exact date but they were believed to arrive in October of 1683. His mother was Anne (last name is unknown). They had 3 kids before the age of 26. Ben ran away from Boston at age 17 only seeing his father 3 times after that.

Benjamin makes his way to Boston to work as an apprentice to his brother. His brother starts the New England Current ,one of the first regular newspapers in US. His



brother being printer James Franklin. Here in Boston is where he writes his famous
Silence DoGood letters. As a kid Ben wrote letters to the current pretending to be a widow named Silence. His brother found out and was infuriated with his younger counterpart.

After his negative run in with his older brother James, Ben makes his way back to Philadelphia. Back in Philly Ben begins a courtship with his future wife Deborah Read. Soon after leaving for London where he writes his first book. Which he himself prints and becomes quite successful. Ben soon has an “Illegitimate” son William Franklin. Ben also puts a patent out on the first copper plate chest printer. He retires from his inventor binge to sell books and open up the nations first permanent library.

All of Bens writings in some way reflect back to him being raised as a Christian. In his article “A dissertation On Liberty And Necessity; Pleasure And Pain” he speaks simply that god is all good. He believes all that is planned is good but later contradicts saying that not all is good. He claims that consciousness is the key to a countries growth.

He was a major fighter for colonial freedom. He wrote many articles of propaganda to turn colonists against the king.