BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
Inventor
Publisher
Statesman
PATRIOT
by a boy, 10 years old
Lifeline
• Born 1706
• 10th son, and 15th
child, of 17 children!
• Married Deborah Reed
1730
• Fathered 3 children
• Widowed 1774
• Died 1790
Interesting Facts
• At the age of 70, Benjamin Franklin was
the oldest delegate to sign the Declaration
of Independence on July 2, 1776.
• John Paul Jones, who became the
premier American naval hero by raiding
British merchant and military ships,
named his vessel Bonhomme Richard -French for "Poor Richard" -- in honor of
Franklin's Poor Richard's Almanack.
What fool’s name is this?
• As a young lad, Benjamin Franklin wrote
his name in a fancy manner. However,
once a venerable old man saw the
pompous signature and replied, "What
fool's name is this?" After that incident,
Benjamin autographed in a plain and
efficient style.
Patriotic Activities
• Deputy postmaster for
North America
• Colonial agent for
Pennsylvania
• Petitioned England for
freedom from Stamp
Act
• Delegate to
Continental Congress
• Helped write
Declaration of
Independence
• Negotiated treaty of
alliance with France
• President of first
society for abolition of
slavery
Inventions and Science
• Organized first fire
company for
Philadelphia
• Invented swimming
flippers and bifocal
glasses
• Invented Franklin
stove for cooking and
heating the home
• Introduced paving,
street cleaning and
lights to Philadelphia
• Introduced first battery
• Kite experiment for
conducting electricity
Famous Quotations
• "A little neglect may
breed mischief, ...for
want of a nail, the
shoe was lost; for
want of a shoe the
horse was lost; and
for want of a horse
the rider was lost."
• "A penny saved is a
penny earned."
• "Any fool can
criticize, condemn
and complain and
most fools do.”
• "Diligence is the
Mother of good
luck."
More quotations...
• "Dost thou love life?
Then do not
squander time, for
that's the stuff life is
made of."
• "Early to bed, early
to rise makes a man
healthy, wealthy, and
wise."
• "Energy and
persistence conquer
all things.”
• "Having been poor is
no shame, but being
ashamed of it, is.”
• "Never confuse
motion with action."
What I learned from Benjamin
Franklin
• Impressed by his
intelligence
• Admire his loyalty to
country
• Enjoyed his practical
inventiveness
• Lived long and
interesting life