Benjamin Franklin by Matthew Bailey

Benjamin Franklin by Matthew Bailey

• 1.
  Benjamin Franklin Journalist, publisher, author, philanthropist, postmaster, abolitionist, public servant, scientist, librarian, diplomat, inventor and…. Total Leader? Matthew Bailey
• 2.
  Brief Bio • Born: 17JAN1706 • Died: 17APR1790 (84) • 1715 – Leaves School (family couldn’t afford further education) • 1718 – Became a publisher’s apprentice to his Brother James. • 1723 – Takes over the New England Courant after his brother is jailed. Once his brother is released, he breaks the law and runs away to Philadelphia. • 1730 - Marries • 1733 – Begins publishing Poor Richard’s Almanac. • 1775 – Elected to be one of PA’s delegates to the 2nd Continental Congress • 1776 – Arrives as American Ambassador to French Court • 1778 – Signs French Alliance • 1783 – Signs Treaty of Paris • 1787 – Signs the U.S. Constitution
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  Accomplishments • Inventor: SwimFins, Bifocals, the Franklin Stove, Flexible Urinary Catheter, the “Long Arm,” and the Lightening Rod. • Founder: University of Pennsylvania, American Philosophical Society, Pennsylvania Hospital, Franklin and Marshall College, Junto (self improvement society), the Philadelphia and United States Postal Systems, and, oh yeah, America. • Statesman: Member of the Continental Congresses, American Representative to France – negotiator of the Alliance, Amity, and Commerce with France (1778) and the Treaty of Paris (1782). From 1757-1775 represented Pennsylvania, Georgia, Massachusetts, and New Jersey in England. • Publisher: Poor Richard’s Almanac, the New England Currant, the Pennsylvania Gazette, Colonial Currency, and numerous pamphlets.
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  Work • “Early tobed, and early to rise; makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.” • Only person to have signed all four of the U.S.’s “founding” documents: the Declaration of Independence (1776); the Treaty of Alliance, Amity, and Commerce with France (1778); the Treaty of Peace between England, France, and the United States (1782); and the Constitution (1787). • Retired at age 44 and focused on scientific pursuits. • Never took out patents on his inventions as they were for the support of society. • Poor Richard’s Almanac was a defining piece of literature in the United States – still referenced today. • Owned a printing shop and general store – Franklin ran the printing shop – Wife Deborah owned and ran the general store • Franchised his printing shops throughout the U.S. and West Indes. • Traveled throughout the United States, Canada, West Indes, and Europe.
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  Home • Lack ofquote • Wife: Deborah Reed Rogers – Common Law Marriage 9/1/1730 – Wife dies after 44 years of marriage but having not seen her husband in 10 years. • Children: William; Francis; Sarah – William – Estranged – Francis – Died – Sarah – good relations with 8 grandkids • Simultaneous Reputations – Loving supporting husband – Womanizer
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  Community • “Be civilall; sociable to many; familiar with few; friend to one; enemy to none.” • “No one cares what you know until they know that you care!” • Appointed Post Master General of the Americas based on contacts in England – started the Philly and U.S. postal service. • Franklin was a member of the learned societies of many nations. Among these were the Royal Society, which awarded him its prestigious Copley medal for his work in electricity (1753); and the American Philosophical Society, of which he was a founder. He received several honorary degrees, including a doctorate from St. Andrews, Harvard, and Yale. Also was a member of the Masons. • Started the University of Pennsylvania, American Philosophical Society, Pennsylvania Hospital, Franklin and Marshall College. He also helped establish: street lighting, paving, post offices, fire companies, insurance, the Library Company, and Daylight Savings Time. • Worked for women’s suffrage and abolition (despite earlier owning slaves). • Maintained extensive range of associates and friends with whom he communicates often.
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  Self • “If youwould have a faithful servant, and one that you like, serve yourself. “ • “Observe all men, thyself most.” • Vegetarian • Believed in self improvement, however, also liked to “live life to the fullest.” • Loved to read • Was a “deist”, also a Mason, and an espoused “free thinker”. Stopped going to Church on Sundays so that he could read and study. • Had very simple meals that he cooked himself so he’d have more time to study and work on projects. • Believed in observation and refinement.
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  Lessons • Based hisinventions on needs he saw in people around him. – Never took patents because believed they were for the benefit of society. • Cultivated relationships throughout his life and tried to intertwine these networks to maximize effectiveness. – Working the political factions during the debate about American Independence – Working the French court to gain a treaty of alliance • Intertwined his domains • Wrote about things he considered important in all spheres. • His exploits took on larger than life proportions and continue to influence far into the future.