Monday, August 25, 2008

Benjamin Franklin: America's Founding Father

Benjamin Franklin has been an inspiration to all Americans and many of us have come to learn about his great accomplishments and their impacts on our society usually in the first few years of grammar school. Almost every child learning about Colonial America and the birth of our country comes to recognize the image and legacy of Benjamin Franklin. While there are quite a lot of myths involved in Benjamin Franklin’s life story, many of what we have come to know about Benjamin Franklin is quite accurate. If you have ever been fascinated with Benjamin Franklin, our founding fathers or the birth of our country Smithsonian Magazine offers an intriguing article on the subject.


Benjamin Franklin was born in 1706 and was the 17th child and the youngest of his family. Growing up in such a large family in Massachusetts had both its advantages and disadvantages. While his family was not rich and was not able to give Benjamin the resources he wanted, the fact is that Benjamin Franklin had plenty of talent and resources of his own that he worked hard to develop. You may have thought that Benjamin Franklin was schooled by the best and the brightest as other founding fathers received, but in contrary, Benjamin Franklin received only one year of formal education- enough for him to fall in love with the written word and enjoy reading which ultimately set his course for the future.


At the young age of 12, Benjamin Franklin started his apprenticeship and found a vehicle for his love of reading and writing. His first job was as a printer- at his brother’s print shop. Benjamin worked very long hours each day composing pamphlets, advertising and a variety of products and setting type. Although, this apprenticeship was rewarding, he looked to further his career and decided to leave home and start his own printing enterprise in the city of Philadelphia.


With his new found enterprise becoming extremely successful, Benjamin Franklin became not only wealthy, but renowned for the writings he created. Eventually, he branched out into newspapers and a few titles of his own, one of which is still popular today- Poor Richard’s Almanac. As his popularity and intellectual curiosity excelled, he used this knowledge and power he amassed to do lots of good for not only Philadelphia, but for the American Colonies.


To read more about one of our greatest forefathers, the Smithsonian Magazine has a fascinating article on Benjamin Franklin. Please visit our main website at the following link to read it. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/


Benjamin Franklin, Cleopatra, Tattoo Art, Phantom of the Opera

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Benjamin Franklin:  An Interesting Life

For most school age children, Benjamin Franklin is as well known as practically any sports hero or entertainer today. Benjamin Franklin has had a huge impact on all American’s lives and was the founder of institutions that continue to this day. Obviously, one of the Great founding fathers, Benjamin Franklin was not only a intellectual force, but also lived an interesting life.


Benjamin Franklin was born in 1706 and he was the youngest child- amazingly he was the 17th born. He grew up in Massachusetts and since his family was large- he lacked many of the resources that he ultimately wanted. While his family could not afford many of the things he required, Benjamin Franklin had talents of his own. And after attending school for one year, he realized that he loved reading and writing and the pursuit of knowledge which helped him pave the way to his exciting future.


For more interesting information on the life and times of Benjamin Franklin and specifically on the years that he returned from England to the colonies, Smithsonian Magazine has an exciting article on one of our most beloved founding fathers and his accomplishments. To read this article, please visit us our main website at the following link: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/


Benjamin Franklin, Tattoo Art, Wrigley Field, Cleopatra, Glacier National Park, Phantom of the Opera

Benjamin Franklin:  An Interesting Life

For most school age children, Benjamin Franklin is as well known as practically any sports hero or entertainer today. Benjamin Franklin has had a huge impact on all American’s lives and was the founder of institutions that continue to this day. Obviously, one of the Great founding fathers, Benjamin Franklin was not only a intellectual force, but also lived an interesting life.


Benjamin Franklin was born in 1706 and he was the youngest child- amazingly he was the 17th born. He grew up in Massachusetts and since his family was large- he lacked many of the resources that he ultimately wanted. While his family could not afford many of the things he required, Benjamin Franklin had talents of his own. And after attending school for one year, he realized that he loved reading and writing and the pursuit of knowledge which helped him pave the way to his exciting future.


For more interesting information on the life and times of Benjamin Franklin and specifically on the years that he returned from England to the colonies, Smithsonian Magazine has an exciting article on one of our most beloved founding fathers and his accomplishments. To read this article, please visit us our main website at the following link: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/


Benjamin Franklin, Tattoo Art, Wrigley Field, Cleopatra, Glacier National Park, Phantom of the Opera