Benjamin Franklin was born on January 17, 1706. He was the 15th child, of 17 children in the Josiah Franklin family. Benjamin Franklin's dad was a soap and candle maker, who lived in Boston, Massachusetts with his wife, Abiah Folger. Benjamin Franklin learned to read at an early age, but he only went to grammar school for two years. When he was 10 years old, Franklin was working for his father. But he did not like candle making, so two years later, he helped his brother James, as a printer.
For five years, Franklin tried to get a hang of the printers' trade. During this time, he also tried to make his education better. Franklin read books and worked on his writing style.
After a fight with his brother in 1723, Franklin left Boston and went to Philadelphia. There he again worked in the printing industry. He became friends with the governor of Pennsylvania, Sir William Keith, and at Keith's suggestion, Franklin decided to go into business for himself. But he didn't work. So he went to London and worked at a printing house and saved up enough money to come to America.
Franklin went to Philadelphia in 1726 and finished his trade. By 1730, Franklin had his own business. That same year, he married Deborah Read, a woman he met before his trip to England. Together they had a son, who died at four years of age; and a daughter.
In 1731, Franklin started the first public library. During the next several years, Franklin also helped start the first fire department, a police force, and the Academy of Philadelphia, which became the University of Pennsylvania. Around 1744, Franklin invented a stove which reduced the chimney smoke. The Franklin stove is still in use today. .
In the 1740's, Franklin started to experiment with electricity, which led to the invention of the lightning rod. His famous electricity experiment, which included flying a kite during a lightning storm took place in 1752. In addition to his science projects, Franklin was elected to the Pennsylvania assembly and held the post for 14 years.
