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Benjamin Franklin "The Junto"

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Benjamin Franklin was born on January 17th 1706 in Boston. Massachusetts. He was born as the youngest of 10 older siblings in the house and would later have two younger sisters. At a young age, Franklin’s father Josiah, aimed to have him join the ministry. At the age of 8, Franklin attended the Boston Latin School. Despite doing well in school, Franklin’s father ended his education, in fear that the family could not later afford a Harvard education. (Isaacson 2003)

At the age of 10, Franklin worked fulltime at his father’s candle and soap shop. Franklin disliked the repetitive and seemingly senseless work. Nonetheless, Franklin’s father exposed him to several trades and businesses where Benjamin would learn to appreciate and respect the life of a tradesman. In 1718, at the age of 12, he was apprenticed to his brother James a printer. Benjamin began by pushing type and producing poetry. James would eventually lose the contract to his print of the Gazette and would later implement what was then the “only truly independent newspaper in the colonies, and the first with literary aspirations” called the New England Courant. (Isaacson, 2003 p. 20-22)

On September 25, 1723, at the age of 17, Benjamin left his brothers paper and set sail for New York. Upon his arrival in New York, Benjamin would receive guidance from William Bradford a NY printer, to move to Philadelphia and seek employment with his son at a family print shop. (Isaacson, 2003 p. 36)

Franklin began work in Philadelphia. Soon after, Franklin was encouraged to open his own print shop and in 1724 he left for London to purchase supplies. After spending time in London and pursuing his passions in reading and swimming, Franklin returned to Philadelphia in 1726. Benjamin Franklin Biography (15, November, 17) Retrieved from http://www.biography.com/people/benjamin-franklin-9301234

In 1728, Franklin returned to printing, partnering with a friend to open his own print shop in Philadelphia and in 1730 he was named the “official printer of Pennsylvania” Benjamin Franklin Biography (15, November, 17) Retrieved from http://www.biography.com/people/benjamin-franklin-9301234

"The Junto"

Benjamin Franklin at the age of 21 formed a weekly discussion group that was called “the Junto”. “Junto” is derived from the Spanish and means “to join”. These discussion groups met every Friday at a local tavern or house to discuss “Morals, Politics, or Natural Philosophy (science).” Franklin was responsible for developing a set of rules that were to be followed at the “Junto” meetings and required each of the 12 members to “produce one or more quires” (Benjamin Franklin Autobiography) related to these subjects. Additionally, the rules specified that once every three months each member was to write and read essay to be presented at the meeting on any subject that they desired.

In 1730 Franklin took Deborah Read as his common-law wife. Their first son, Francis was born in 1732 but at the age of four died of smallpox. Sarah, their only daughter was born in 1743. Benjamin Franklin Biography (15, November, 17) Retrieved from http://www.biography.com/people/benjamin-franklin-9301234

Franklin became the owner and publisher of the Pennsylvania Gazette in 1729 and furthered his success with the publishing of the “Poor Richard’s Almanack”. Franklin continued publishing the almanac from 1733 to 1758. Benjamin Franklin. (2009) Retrieved from http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/benjamin-franklin

At the age of 42 (1748) Franklin’s success in the printing industry allowed for him to retire and focus his efforts on public service. In the 1740s, he studied electricity and invented the lightening rod. During his study of electricity he invented terms in electricity such as; battery and conductor. . Benjamin Franklin. (2009) Retrieved from http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/benjamin-franklin

In addition to contributions in science and invention, Franklin became very involved in civic affairs. He helped establish Philadelphia’s first lending library, fire company and police patrol. In 1737, Franklin was appointed postmaster of Philadelphia and in 1753 became the postmaster general for all the American colonies. In 1775 Franklin was appointed the first postmaster general of the United States. . Benjamin Franklin. (2009) Retrieved from http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/benjamin-franklin

In 1775 he was selected to serve as the delegate to the Second Continental Congress and in 1776 he helped draft the Declaration of Independence where 13 American colonies declared freedom from British rule. In 1778 as the minister to France, Franklin aided in the negotiations and draft of the Treaty of Paris, which ended the Revolutionary War. Benjamin Franklin. (2009) Retrieved from http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/benjamin-franklin

On April 17th, 1790 Franklin died at the age of 84. He was buried in Philadelphia’s’ Christ Church Cemetery. 20,000 were said to be in attendance at his funeral. The Electric Ben Franklin (1995) Retrieved from http://www.ushistory.org/franklin/info/

References

References

1. Isaacson, W (2003) Benjamin Franklin An American Life. NY, NY: Simon and Shuster

2. Biography.Com Editiors. (2015). Benjamin Franklin Biography. Retrieved from http://www.biography.com/people/benjamin-franklin-9301234

3. History.Com Staff. (2009) Benjamin Franklin. Retrieved from http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/benjamin-franklin

External links

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