Monday, November 10, 2008

Benjamin Franklin: A Great American Inventor

For those growing up, one of the main personalities from Colonial America that we are taught about is Benjamin Franklin. Benjamin Franklin is perhaps one of our most beloved founding fathers which also happened to be a great inventor, philosopher and writer. With so many biographies written on Benjamin Franklin, it is clear that this man had so many gifts and did so much for the average American during his lifetime. Here are just a few of his achievements.


Benjamin Franklin was born to a large family in Massachusetts in 1706. In fact, he was the youngest son of 17 kids and although he only had one year of formal education, he was a voracious reader and loved to write. His first job was at his brother’s print shop, but he soon left home at the age of 17 to Philadelphia to start his own print shop. After a successful amount of books and the writing of Poor Richard’s Almanac, he became quite famous in Colonial America and the Western World.


Benjamin Franklin also was an avid inventor, inventing items that are still in use today including: bifocal lenses, the Franklin stove, the urinary catheter, lighting rod and others. In addition, he also founded the first fire department and the first public library. To read more about his fascinating personality, please visit our main website at the following link: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/


Daredevil, Cheetah Facts, Tattoo Art, Cleopatra, Wrigley Field, Benjamin Franklin

Monday, November 3, 2008

Benjamin Franklin: A Founding Father and Great American

Benjamin Franklin is one of our most popular founding fathers. For most of us, learning about Benjamin Franklin’s inventions and contributions is part of almost every student’s grammar school education. And while most grow up to have great reverence for Benjamin Franklin, a lot of his contributions are still unknown to many. For those fascinated with Benjamin Franklin, the Smithsonian Magazine offers a fascinating article on the man, his inventions and his contributions. You can read the article today by visiting our main website. Below, you will find some interesting information on one of our most important founding fathers.


Growing Up in Massachusetts
Benjamin Franklin was born in 1706, he was the fifteenth child of a total of 17 and the youngest son. Growing up in Massachusetts during the American colonial period was not easy. He was only able to attend one year of formal education, however his love of the written word would stay with him for the rest of his life. His first job was as an apprentice at his brother’s printing shop and as he learned the trade, he dreamed of having his own printing shop. At the age of 17, he moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This blossoming city was where Benjamin Franklin found much inspiration and began a thriving printing shop and career as a writer, philosopher, inventor and statesman.


His Early Life as an Author
In 1733, Benjamin Franklin began publishing his soon to be famous Poor Richard’s Almanck. This almanack is where many of Benjamin Franklin’s witty sayings such as “an apple a day keeps the doctor away and “A penny saved is two pence dear” which is actually misquoted to “a penny saved is a penny earned” were first printed. In addition to his almanack, he also published a few books including: The Way to Wealth.


Benjamin Franklin as an Inventor
Besides being a famous author and soon to be a statesman and founding father, Benjamin Franklin also was very curious about science. Throughout his life he made many observations and invented many items that we still use today including: the lighting rod, glass harmonica, Franklin stove, bifocal glasses and the urinary catheter. In addition, he also started the first fire department (called a fire company), the first public library and the first hospital.


Read More About Benjamin Franklin
If you find Benjamin Franklin interesting, visit the Smithsonian Magazine’s website today to read their article on this incredible American. You can visit their site at: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/


Black Holes, Cleopatra, Forbidden City, Benjamin Franklin, Wrigley Field, Tattoo Art

Benjamin Franklin and His Many Inventions

Benjamin Franklin is one of our most beloved founding fathers. During his lifetime, Benjamin Franklin not only wrote and philosophized, but invented numerous items, helped in many civic areas and was a founding father of our great country. If you are fascinated about the life and times of Benjamin Franklin, the Smithsonian Magazine is now offering an article on this great man.


From a Large Family to His First Enterprise
Benjamin Franklin was born in Massachusetts in 1706 to a very large family. He was the youngest son of 17 kids and while he only attended one year of formal education, he had a voracious appetite for books and learning. He started his first job as an apprentice for his brother’s print shop and soon ran off to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to begin his enterprise.


The Many Inventions of Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin was extremely curious and he invented a wide variety of items including the Franklin stove, bifocals, urinary catheter, the lighting rod and more. In addition, Benjamin Franklin helped his fellow man with the first fire department, the first public library and the first public hospital.


Read More About Benjamin Franklin
For those intrigued by Benjamin Franklin, the Smithsonian Magazine offers an interesting article on this great man. To read it, please visit our main website at the following link: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/


Black Holes, Cleopatra, Forbidden City, Benjamin Franklin, Wrigley Field, Tattoo Art