Data Bases • Custom Term Papers • Free Term Papers • Free Research Papers • Free Essays • Free Book Reports • Plagiarism? Links • Top 100 Term Paper Sites • Top 25 Essay Sites • Top 50 Essay Sites • Search 97,000 Papers @ DirectEssays.com • Search 101,000 Papers @ ExampleEssays.com • Search 90,000 Papers @ MegaEssays.com Free Essays • Term Paper Sites • Chuck III's Free Essays • Free College Essays • TermPaperSites.com • Free Essays • My Term Papers • Essay World • Planet Papers	Search Lots of Essays Back to Subjects - History Other benjamin franklin benjamin franklin Benjamin Franklin was born on January 17, 1706, in Boston, Massachusetts. He was the tenth born into a large family whose father was a soap and candle maker. Although he received some formal education, he was principally self-taught. He managed to teach himself simple algebra and geometry, logic, navigation, history, science, English grammar and five other languages. After being an apprentice to his father between the ages of ten and twelve, he went to work for his half brother, James, who was a printer. In 1721, they founded The New England Courant, and Benjamin secretly contributed fourteen essays to it which were his first published writings. In 1723, he moved to Philadelphia where he was employed as a printer. He later moved to London for a short time before returning to Philadelphia where he rose quickly in the printing industry. He published the "Pennsylvania Gazette" and the famous "Poor Richards Almanac". He married Deborah Reed and she didn’t slow him down at all from continuing to be successful. He gained recognition for many things including providing civic causes such as libraries and educational institutions. Benjamin Franklin has many famous quotes that are still used today including, " A penny saved is a penny earned", "God helps them that help themselves", and "Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead." His energetic and tireless attitude kept him gong. He conducted scientific studies of electricity and made several important discoveries. Franklin was considered untouched in American as an inventor until Thomas Edison. He invented the Franklin stove, bifocals, and the lighting rod and yet he refused to profit from his inventions just wanted people to enjoy them. Thomas Jefferson called Benjamin Franklin "The greatest man and ornament of the age and country in which he lived." Benjamin Franklin was very involved in politics and well respected in the area. From the years 1757-62 and 1764-75, he lived in England as an ambassador and agent for Pennsylvania, Georgia, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. Although Franklin was involved in many things politically, one of the more important was the constitutional convention. In 1785, he became president of the supreme executive council of Pennsylvania. At the constitutional convention he did a number of things. He opposed salaries for highest executive positions. He argued that representatives should be proportional to population. Later he proposed the "Great Compromise" on representation making representation proportional to population in the House and equal by state in the Senate. He moved to have sessions of congress opened with prayer, and it was dropped because it was proved controversial. He argued for extending the right to vote as widely as possible and condemns property qualification for franchise and for office holding as unnecessary. Though he did not approve of many aspects of the finished document and was hampered by his old and ill health, he missed only a few if any sessions and lent his intelligence and prestige, soothed passions and compromised disputes. James Wilson read his closing speech at the convention urging every member to "doubt a little of his infallibility.’ Put aside specific reservations, and vote unanimously for approval of the constitution. Bibliography: Word Count: 550
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