Benjamin Franklin was a man of many hats. He played many different roles throughout his life while also constantly leaving one hat behind for another. Franklin was a well-rounded man who did not allow others to influence his ideas or his roles he wanted to play at that time. Benjamin Franklin was also one of the most influential on the United States of America during the 18th century. Benjamin may have started small in a poor unprivileged family, but he grew to be much more than that.
One of Benjamin Franklins many hats was as a gentleman. Benjamin started his life in a poor family and had only acquired 2 years of schooling around the age of 8. This first job was working alongside his older brother James as an apprentice. Benjamin's apprenticeship was unusual compared to those of the other kids because his brother contracted his for a longer duration. When Benjamin obtained enough money, at the age of 19, he fled from his brother to the city of Philadelphia where he became a printer. Many in Pennsylvania noticed how grasped Benjamin was by books and studying. He was most notably a very bright man for that time, and strived to only learn more. Pennsylvania men quickly became friends with him and helped him in becoming a true worker man when he was in need of money. Gordon S. Wood says, In the end Franklin was never quite as self-made as he sometimes implied or as the nineteenth century made him out to be (27). This supports that Benjamin may have made his way up in the world very fast, but it was not only his own efforts, many others helped him get to where he was at the age of 19. .
His first steps toward becoming a gentleman were confusing ones. Society believed that a man who works could never become a true gentleman. The social structure of English-speaking world was changing dramatically. Trade, commercialism, and social status were all growing and changing dramatically. Common men soon began to find themselves worthy of a Gentleman.