His political views showed him to be a man who loved freedom and self-government. His common sense, his whit, and his ability to negotiate behind the scenes lent a hand in the formation of the new country.
Franklin composed his Autobiography over a period of eighteen years. In his letters to his relatives and friends, he stated clearly that the purpose of writing his Autobiography was to set an example to the younger generations by showing his own success in emerging from poverty and acquiring wealth, power, and "reputation in the world." The Autobiography focused on the ways of acquiring wealth, the pursuit of communication skills, and the ways of moral perfection. .
The autobiography traces Franklin's rise in society from obscurity to significance. His Autobiography, completed in three sections written in 1771, 1784, and 1788 respectively, details the rise of a most remarkable human being. Benjamin Franklin began his autobiography by addressing his son, with the intention of telling the story of his life. As one of seventeen children of a Boston soap and candle maker, with little formal schooling and no inherited wealth, Franklin went on to become one of the wealthiest and most influential people of his generation.
The foundation of Benjamin Franklin's values, virtues, and his solid work ethic begin from his humble beginnings and his family's ancestry. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts on Jan. 17, 1706, into a religious Puritan household. The Franklins were by no means aristocrats; in fact, it is apparent that the family was of relatively humble means because all the sons went to work at very early ages. Nevertheless, Franklin was instilled as a youth with a strong work ethic. Most of Benjamin's brothers became apprentices in various trades, as was the custom in the 18th century. Benjamin, however, was put into grammar school with the intent that he would later go into the church.
