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Benjamin Franklin Biography Essay

1453 Words6 Pages

Kevin Hu
Mrs. Baylis
2 September 2014

Benjamin Franklin by Walter Isaacson

“Franklin was a great genius, original, sagacious, and inventive, capable of discoveries in science no less than of improvements in the fine arts and the mechanical arts….His reputation was more universal than that of Leibnitz or Newton, Frederick or Voltaire.” These were the words how Founding Father of America, John Adams, described Benjamin Franklin. Benjamin Franklin, as one of the greatest men in history, devoted himself to his nation. Although, he was never a president, Franklin contributed more than a president could do for America. He kept looking for a way to inspire people and eventually make America as one of the strongest countries in the world. In Walter …show more content…

It was imparted in the book that Benjamin Franklin’s flair for writing demonstrated his creativity and brilliance. He was highly dedicated to his works. For example, the first pseudonym that Franklin used was Silence Dogood and it was showed up in James Franklin’s New England Courant when Franklin was only aged sixteen. Silence Dogood was created as a middle-aged widow who viewed the world with sarcasm. Franklin used this pen name to reflect the cruel and harsh social realities that people had no choice but to bear. With humor and irony, love, relationships, and education were set as the topics of the fifteen letters Dogood had …show more content…

In his period of time, people had misconceptions of lightning, thinking that it was some kind of supernatural existence (many people thought that it was the “wrath of god”). Despite all the superstition, Benjamin Franklin had always believed that lightning was a special form of electricity. In 1749 he explained the similarities between lightning and electricity: color of light, crooked direction, and crackling noise. There were other scientists who also believed that lightning is electricity, but Franklin was the only one who was determined to prove it. By 1750, believing that lightning was electricity; Franklin began to think about how to protect people and houses from lightning (knowing that its damage was disastrous). This developed into his idea of a sharp-ended lightning

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The primary source is vital to our understanding of history. Through analysis of primary sources, historians can piece together a most accurate representation of events. Through this analysis they may produce secondary sources, that explain those primary ones. Along with events that transpired, primary sources provide some insight into thought processes and conversations between people. Benjamin Franklin was a critical character in American history.

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Benjamin Franklin was an important figure in the history of the United States and

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1. “Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are.” ― Benjamin Franklin 2. Benjamin Franklin remains one of the founding fathers of the United States of America because he drafted the US Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. Franklin also was an author, politician, scientist, and inventor who were born in Boston in 1706.

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Benjamin Franklin was a politician, inventor, and one of the founders of United States of America who helped write the Declaration of Independence. He investigated electricity and invented the Franklin stove, lighting rod and bifocals. Universities, libraries, the post office, and fire department was also was found by Benjamin Franklin. He also helped shaping the foreign policy as a politician. He published lots of newspaper and books in his life.

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“When James refused to publish any of his brother’s writing, 16-year-old Ben adopted the pseudonym Mrs. Silence Dogood, and “her” 14 imaginative and witty letters delighted readers of his brother’s newspaper, The New England Courant.” His brother James quickly grew very angry. Benjamin illegally left boston in 1723 and escaped to new york before settling in philadelphia in which will later become ben's home for the rest of his life yet to come. In 1724 young Benjamin left for london. One thing I found really interesting about Benjamin Franklin was is, when he was in london is that, Benjamin Franklin who was a self taught swimmer crafted his own wooden flippers.

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Born in 1706 as the eighth of 17 children to a Massachusetts soap and candlestick maker, the chances Benjamin Franklin would go on to become a gentleman, scholar, scientist, statesman, musician, author, publisher and all-around general genius were astronomically low, yet he did just that. Franklin wrote in the Age of Enlightenment, an intellectual revolution in the 18th century. The ideals of the enlightenment are still thought of today, as they are a part of the United States’ Declaration of Independence and Constitution. When one remembers Benjamin Franklin very few people are aware of the fact that he worked as a printer until the age of 42. As a printer he had access to substantial amounts of literature.

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In one of his most famous experiments, Franklin flew a kite in a storm, trying to attract the lightning. He concluded that lightning is a form of electrical power and not a mysterious act of God. The Great Awakening brought the recovery of religious beliefs. After the Massachusetts charter

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history. Not only did Franklin defy in his actions, but as well as his demeanor as he is described as “the bedraggled 17-year-old runaway” (Isaacson 1). This description demonstrates a risk in Franklin’s personality, however, the risks Franklin would come to take revolutionized America. Franklin took an incredible risk when he proved the existence of electricity in lightning, he took this risk by “flying a kite” (Isaacson 4) in ghastly weather and on top of that he “invented a rod to tame it” (Isaacson 4). This risk revolutionized the modern day as electricity is a necessity in the current climate.

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Franklin's inventions made many every day tasks of the colonial times a lot easier. Benjamin Franklin was the inventor of the lightning rod and he is well known for his experiments in electricity field. Using only a key, a kite, and a jar, Benjamin Franklin discovered how to conduct electricity. Franklin later constructed the lightning rod, a metal rod attached to the highest point of a building with a cable running it from the rod into the ground, safely conducting the electricity away from the building. No longer would houses and stores catch on fire due to lightning strikes during intense storms.

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Benjamin Franklin and His Enemies Summary Robert Middlekauff starts off by introducing Benjamin Franklin as a well-mannered and civic-minded individual who is loved by everyone. Of course, Benjamin Franklin was a little bit reserved when it came to strangers, but that never stopped people from growing fond of him. His good heart and spirit lead him to amazing people like Margaret Stevenson (Polly), John Adams, William Strahan, and Thomas Jefferson to name a few. Besides from having a well-liked personality Robert Middlekauff also reveals that Benjamin Franklin was a curious man who came equipped with an outstanding resumé.

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Franklin’s work in providing a public forum through his newspaper, discussion groups, library system, and almanac established the foundations for evolution of this American character. The British Parliament let the Licensing Act lapse, and the result was a print revolution. All over Britain and Europe print was essential to transmission of new ideas. This information soon reached the Atlantic, and the colonies began printing their own newspapers. Benjamin Franklin was born in 1706 and

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Ben was later apprenticed to his brother James print shop at age 12. James constantly mistreated, beat his younger brother, and wouldn’t let Ben publish any of his writings. At age 16 he used a fake name, Mrs. Silence Dogood,

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Benjamin Franklin is known to be an “Archetypal American,” because of his beliefs on religion, self-improvement, hard work, and determination; but also his somewhat prideful spirit. Much of modern America is quite similar to Franklin in his actions throughout his lifetime. In his early years, Franklin’s father, Josiah, had a set plan for what he was supposed to do with his life, as a minister. Soon into his education, he found an interest in reading and writing, so he began pursuing a career in printing.

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C I also found in the text that it says “His Revolutionary idea was to conduct electricity safely into the ground to save buildings from fires.” E This quote shows me that Benjamin Franklin was the only one that one Revolutionary discovery. C The last citation that I had found from the article states “ The simple metal rod connected to a wire made Franklin famous throughout Europe and the

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As a result, Benjamin Franklin is a wise man, in order to create trusts from the members of the congress, he utilizes his ethos by accepting his fallibilities and willing to do good for the constitution to be

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