User:Todd Coles/Sandbox

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) was an American statesman whose efforts were paramount to the success of the American Revolution. In the political arena, he worked as a diplomat in France and England, as well as serving in both the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention. He worked with Thomas Jefferson on writing the Declaration of Independence and was instrumental in facilitating compromises in the U.S. Constitution.

Franklin was also a noted scientist, philosopher, journalist, and inventor.

Early Life

Franklin was born on January 17, 1706 in Boston, Massachusetts into a Puritan family. His father was Josiah Franklin, a soap and candle maker, that was twice married and had 17 children. Originally Josiah planned for his son to enter the ministry, but after 2 years of schooling changed his mind. Benjamin briefly worked as an apprentice under his father before being apprenticed to his brother James, who was a printer, at the age of 12. After losing the contract to print one of Boston's newspapers, James created the first independent newspaper in the colonies, a weekly publication called the New England Courant.