Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790) American statesman, philosopher,
and writer, was one of a numerous family. His father was a soap-
boiler in Boston, where Franklin was born. He was apprenticed at
the age of 13 to his brother, a printer, who treated him
harshly. After undergoing many troubles, during which he lived
in New York, London, and Philadelphia, he at last succeeded in
founding a successful business as a printer. He also founded a
newspaper, The Gazette, which was highly popular, Poor Richards
Almanac, and the Busy-body Papers, in imitation of the
Spectator. After holding various minor appointments, he was made
deputy Postmaster-General for the American Colonies. In 1757 he
went to London on some public business and many colonies
appointed him their English agent. Among a number of
enterprises, he found time for scientific investigation,
especially dealing with electricity. He thus became known over
the civilised world, and was loaded with honours. In 1762 he
returned to America, and took a prominent par