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Benjamin Franklin was an inventor, a scientist, a printer, and a statesman. He was one of only six men that signed both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. He was the oldest man to sign the Constitution of the United States.
Name Benjamin Franklin
Date of birth January 17, 1706 [i]
Place of birth Boston, Massachusetts [ii]
Occupation Scientist, Inventor, Printer, Statesman [iii]
Married Deborah Read
Number of children 3
Names of children William, Francis Folger, and Sarah
Notable Achievements
Postmaster of Philadelphia, [iv] founded a Pennsylvania hospital, [v] Representative in the Pennsylvania legislature, Represented multiple states in London, Represented the Continental Congress in Paris, negotiated and signed the treaty of alliance with France in 1778, negotiated and signed the ready of peace with Great Britain in 1783, signed both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States, elected the president of the first antislavery society in the United States. [vi]
State Represented Pennsylvania [vii]
Documents Signed Declaration of Independence, Treaty of Alliance with France, Treaty of Peace with Great Britain, and The Constitution of the United States [viii]
Age when he signed Declaration 70 years old, Constitution 81 years old [ix]
Quotable Quotes
“Freedom is not a gift bestowed upon us by other men, but a right that belongs to us by the laws of God and nature.”
-Benjamin Franklin
“Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters.” [x]
-Benjamin Franklin
Fun Facts
–Benjamin was number 15 of 17 children in his family. He was the youngest son. [xi]
-He was one of only six men to sign both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States. [xii]
-He spoke English, Latin, French, Spanish, and Italian [xiii]
-Organized fire departments in Philadelphia [xiv]
-Mr. Franklin invented the lightning rod, the Franklin stove, swimming fins, bifocals, [xv] and street lamps. [xvi]
-Discovered positive and negative electricity [xvii]
Age of death 84
Date of death April 17, 1790
Endnotes on Benjamin Franklin
[i] Marilyn Boyer, For You They Signed, (Master Books, 2009), 146
[ii] Reprint from 1848, Lives of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, (Wallbuilders, Inc., 1995), 104
[iii] Marilyn Boyer, For You They Signed, (Master Books, 2009), 146
[iv] Reprint from 1848, Lives of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, (Wallbuilders, Inc., 1995), 107
[v] William J. Federer, America’s God and Country Encyclopedia of Quotations, (Amerisearch, Inc., 2000), 241
[vi] Marilyn Boyer, For You They Signed, (Master Books, 2009), 149
[vii] https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/signers-factsheet (accessed January 14, 2022)
[viii] https://wallbuilders.com/benjamin-franklins-letter-thomas-paine (accessed January 11, 2022)
[ix] https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/signers-factsheet (accessed January 14, 2022)
[x] William J. Federer, America’s God and Country Encyclopedia of Quotations, (Amerisearch, Inc., 2000), 243, 247
[xi] https://www.fi.edu/benjamin-franklin-faq (accessed January 11, 2022
[xii] https://wallbuilders.com/benjamin-franklins-letter-thomas-paine (accessed January 11, 2022)
[xiii] Reprint from 1848, Lives of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, (Wallbuilders, Inc., 1995), 107
[xiv] Ibid, 108
[xv] Marilyn Boyer, Portraits of Integrity, (The Learning Parent, 2012), 76
[xvi] http://www.benjamin-franklin-history.org/inventions-and-improvements/ (accessed January 14, 2022)
[xvii] Marilyn Boyer, For You They Signed, (Master Books, 2009), 146
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