benjamin franklin was very important in pennsylvanian and early american politics. he was a leader in the city of philadelphia, where he did many important things. he was the president of the academy and college of philadelphia. later he became a councilman, a justice of the peace, later a representative of the city. he also started one of the first public libraries in philadelphia. he was for many years the postmaster of philadelphia, and in 1753 became postmaster general of the thirteen colonies. in 1757 he went to live in london as agent for pennsylvania and later for other colonies.