Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin, born on January 17, 1706, in Boston, was a polymath and founding father of the United States. The fifteenth of seventeen children, his early life was marked by financial hardship and limited formal education, attending the Boston Latin School for just two years. However, his strong desire for knowledge led him to become self-taught, reading extensively on science, philosophy, and literature.
At 12, Franklin apprenticed to his brother James, a printer, and began writing for his brother’s newspaper under the pseudonym “Silence Dogood.” In 1723, at 17, he moved to Philadelphia to pursue a printing career. After early struggles, Franklin’s determination paid off, and his business flourished.
In 1727, Franklin formed the Junto, a group for intellectual discussion. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to establish his own printing business, acquire the Pennsylvania Gazette, and found the Library Company of Philadelphia in 1731. He also founded the Union Fire Company and conducted groundbreaking experiments on electricity, inventing the lightning rod.
Franklin’s contributions to science, literature, and politics solidified his reputation as an influential intellectual figure both in America and Europe.