Biography The Life of Benjamin Franklin
Born in Boston in 1706, Benjamin Franklin was the first to do many things. He started a newspaper and his own printing business. He founded the first lending library in America. Franklin created the first fire department and the
first hospital in Philadelphia. © 2003–2013 www.legendsofamerica.com 2003–2013 © He also developed better ways to deliver mail. In 1732, Franklin wrote a famous book . called Poor Richard’s Almanack
A Man with New Ideas One experiment did not go as planned. Franklin tried to kill a turkey Franklin was a scientist and inventor, with electricity, but the shock almost too. He invented a stove that helped killed him instead! This mistake really keep homes warm. It was called a embarrassed him, but he didn’t quit. Franklin stove. Franklin also invented He went on to invent the lightning swim fins and bifocals, a kind of rod. It protected ships and buildings eyeglasses. from lightning strikes. In addition, he did experiments to prove that lightning is electricity.
© Center for the Collaborative Classroom 1 England or America? Once the American states won the war, Franklin returned home again. Franklin lived and worked in England He helped to write the Constitution for a long time. He actually liked of the United States. Franklin also England better than America. He helped the states agree on how the thought the English were smarter and new government would be run. more stylish. At first he thought the Without his ability to help people English should rule the American compromise, the states might never states. But after many fights with the have agreed about the new English government, Franklin changed government. his mind. He decided to go back to America and help the cause for freedom. Franklin was 84 when he died in 1790. About 20,000 people attended A Respected Leader his funeral. Franklin touched so many parts of life in early America. Many Franklin became a respected leader. of his inventions are still used today. reserved. rights All Library. Picture Society and Images/Science 1999–2013 Getty © Copyright bifocals: He helped to write the Declaration of Although he was never president, Independence. After signing it in 1776, some people call him “the first reserved. rights All Call. Morning Images/Allentown 1999–2013 Getty © Copyright fins: swim Franklin went to France. He asked the American.” French king to help the states fight the Revolutionary War against the British. The French admired Franklin for his scientific work. They respected his many other talents. The French king agreed to help.
lightning rod
bifocals © iStockphoto.com/kodachrome25 ©
© 2013 Thinkstock. All rights reserved.
swim fins
Franklin stove
© Center for the Collaborative Classroom 2 Biography The Life of Benjamin Franklin
Born in Boston in 1706, Benjamin Franklin was the first to do many things. He started a newspaper and his own printing business. He founded the first lending library in America. Franklin created the first fire department and the
first hospital in Philadelphia. © 2003–2013 www.legendsofamerica.com 2003–2013 © He also developed better ways to deliver mail. In 1732, Franklin wrote a famous book . called Poor Richard’s Almanack
A Man with New Ideas One experiment did not go as planned. Franklin tried to kill a turkey Franklin was a scientist and inventor, with electricity, but the shock almost too. He invented a stove that helped killed him instead! This mistake really keep homes warm. It was called a embarrassed him, but he didn’t quit. Franklin stove. Franklin also invented He went on to invent the lightning swim fins and bifocals, a kind of rod. It protected ships and buildings eyeglasses. from lightning strikes. In addition, he did experiments to prove that lightning is electricity.
© Center for the Collaborative Classroom 1 England or America? Once the American states won the war, Franklin returned home again. Franklin lived and worked in England He helped to write the Constitution for a long time. He actually liked of the United States. Franklin also England better than America. He helped the states agree on how the thought the English were smarter and new government would be run. more stylish. At first he thought the Without his ability to help people English should rule the American compromise, the states might never states. But after many fights with the have agreed about the new English government, Franklin changed government. his mind. He decided to go back to America and help the cause for freedom. Franklin was 84 when he died in 1790. About 20,000 people attended A Respected Leader his funeral. Franklin touched so many parts of life in early America. Many Franklin became a respected leader. of his inventions are still used today. reserved. rights All Library. Picture Society and Images/Science 1999–2013 Getty © Copyright bifocals: He helped to write the Declaration of Although he was never president, Independence. After signing it in 1776, some people call him “the first reserved. rights All Call. Morning Images/Allentown 1999–2013 Getty © Copyright fins: swim Franklin went to France. He asked the American.” French king to help the states fight the Revolutionary War against the British. The French admired Franklin for his scientific work. They respected his many other talents. The French king agreed to help.
lightning rod
bifocals © iStockphoto.com/kodachrome25 ©
© 2013 Thinkstock. All rights reserved.
swim fins
Franklin stove
© Center for the Collaborative Classroom 2