Ben franklin birth and death dates

1706-1790

Who Was Benjamin Franklin?

Benjamin Franklin was a Founding Father and a polymath, inventor, scientist, printer, politician, freemason and diplomat. Franklin helped to draft the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, and he negotiated the 1783 Treaty of Paris ending the Revolutionary War.

His scientific pursuits included investigations into electricity, mathematics and mapmaking. A writer known for his wit and wisdom, Franklin also published Poor Richard’s Almanack, invented bifocal glasses and organized the first successful American lending library.

Quick Facts

FULL NAME: Benjamin Franklin
BORN: January 17, 1706
DIED: April 17, 1790
BIRTHPLACE: Boston, Massachusetts
SPOUSE: Deborah Read (1730-1774)
CHILDREN: William, Francis, Sarah
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Capricorn

Early Life

Franklin was born on January 17, 1706, in Boston, in what was then known as the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Franklin’s father, English-born soap and candlemaker Josiah Franklin, had seven children with first wife, Anne Child, and 10 more with second wife, Abiah Folger. Franklin was his 15th child and youngest son.

Franklin learned to read at an early age, and despite his success at the Boston Latin School, he stopped his formal schooling at 10 to wor

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A Quick Biography of
Benjamin Franklin

Francis Folger Franklin, Ben's son.
(Posthumous painting. Artist and date unknown)

Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston on January 17, 1706. He was the tenth son of soap maker, Josiah Franklin. Benjamin's mother was Abiah Folger, the second wife of Josiah. In all, Josiah would father 17 children.

Josiah intended for Benjamin to enter into the clergy. However, Josiah could only afford to send his son to school for one year and clergymen needed years of schooling. But, as young Benjamin loved to read he had him apprenticed to his brother James, who was a printer. After helping James compose pamphlets and set type which was grueling work, 12-year-old Benjamin would sell their products in the streets.

Apprentice Printer

When Benjamin was 15 his brother started The New England Courant the first "newspaper" in Boston. Though there were two papers in the city before James's Courant, they only reprinted news from abroad. James's paper carried articles, opinion pieces written by James's friends, advertisements, and news of ship schedules.

Benjamin wanted to write for the paper too, but he knew that James would never let him. After all, Benjamin was just a lowly apprentice. So Ben began writing letters at night and signing them

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Benjamin Franklin

American polymath and pol (1706–1790)

"Ben Franklin" redirects ambiance. For conquer uses, hunch Benjamin Historiographer (disambiguation).

Benjamin Franklin FRS FRSA FRSE
Portrait by Carpenter Duplessis, 1785
In office October 18, 1785 – November 5, 1788
Vice President
Preceded by	John Dickinson
Succeeded by	Thomas Mifflin
In office September 28, 1782 – April 3, 1783
Appointed by	Congress of representation Confederation
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Jonathan Russell
In office March 23, 1779 – May 17, 1785
Appointed by	Continental Congress
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Thomas Jefferson
In office July 26, 1775 – November 7, 1776
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Richard Bache
In office May 1775 – October 1776
In office August 10, 1753 – January 31, 1774
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Vacant
In office May 1764 – October 1764
Preceded by	Isaac Norris
Succeeded by	Isaac Norris
In office 1749–1754
Succeeded by	William Smith
Born	January 17, 1706 [O.S. Jan 6, 1705][Note 1] Boston, Colony Bay, Evenhanded