The Real Franklin

             The Renaissance Man.
             In a time of great turmoil, Benjamin Franklin is credited with major contributions to the sciences, modern inventions of the time, as well help form the way the United States government is found today. By trade Benjamin Franklin was a printer, but had the capability to shape the way the United States is today. As a result of his accomplishments, he could be considered the United States first Renaissance man.
             Benjamin Franklin was an extremely intelligent man, even without formal schooling. By age ten he dropped out of grammar school and began his apprenticeship with his father as a candlestick maker. After two years Franklin concluded that candlestick making was not for him, and pursued an apprenticeship with his brother in printing. He eventually moved from Boston to Philadelphia where he bought the Pennsylvania Gazette, and with his improvements turned his investment into a successful newspaper. With this successful newspaper to his name, Ben Franklin had the ability to pursue goals in other fields. .
             Franklin started publishing the Poor Richard's Almanac. Almanacs contained articles with topics including weather reports, cooking recipes, predictions and various quotes. What distinguished Franklin's almanac were its witty quotes and writing styles. Many of the famous phrases associated with Franklin, such as, "A penny saved is a penny earned". .
             Benjamin Franklin continued his social contributions during the 1730s and 1740s. He helped start projects to pave, clean, and light the streets in Philadelphia. One of Franklin's premier accomplishments was helping to launch the Library Company in 1731. During that time books were scarce as well as expensive. Franklin recognized that by joining resources, members of the library could afford to buy books from England. In 1743, he helped to launch the American Philosophical Society, the first intellectual society in America.