BENJAMIN FRANKLINBENJAMIN FRANKLIN

Inventor

Publisher

Statesman

PATRIOT

by a boy, 10 years old

Lifeline

• Born 1706• 10th son, and 15th

child, of 17 children!

• Married Deborah Reed 1730

• Fathered 3 children• Widowed 1774• Died 1790

Interesting Facts• At the age of 70, Benjamin Franklin was

the oldest delegate to sign the Declaration of Independence on July 2, 1776.

• John Paul Jones, who became the premier American naval hero by raiding British merchant and military ships, named his vessel Bonhomme Richard -- French for "Poor Richard" -- in honor of Franklin's Poor Richard's Almanack.

What fool’s name is this?

• As a young lad, Benjamin Franklin wrote his name in a fancy manner. However, once a venerable old man saw the pompous signature and replied, "What fool's name is this?" After that incident, Benjamin autographed in a plain and efficient style.

Patriotic Activities

• Deputy postmaster for North America

• Colonial agent for Pennsylvania

• Petitioned England for freedom from Stamp Act

• Delegate to Continental Congress

• Helped write Declaration of Independence

• Negotiated treaty of alliance with France

• President of first society for abolition of slavery

Inventions and Science

• Organized first fire company for Philadelphia

• Invented swimming flippers and bifocal glasses

• Invented Franklin stove for cooking and heating the home

• Introduced paving, street cleaning and lights to Philadelphia

• Introduced first battery• Kite experiment for

conducting electricity

Famous Quotations

• "A little neglect may breed mischief, ...for want of a nail, the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe the horse was lost; and for want of a horse the rider was lost."

• "A penny saved is a penny earned."

• "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do.”

• "Diligence is the Mother of good luck."

More quotations...

• "Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that's the stuff life is made of."

• "Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise."

• "Energy and persistence conquer all things.”

• "Having been poor is no shame, but being ashamed of it, is.”

• "Never confuse motion with action."

What I learned from Benjamin Franklin

• Impressed by his intelligence

• Admire his loyalty to country

• Enjoyed his practical inventiveness

• Lived long and interesting life