Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin, is one of the most well-known Americans in history; due mostly to his contributions to American society. He was a scientist, inventor, diplomat, writer, business strategist, and one of the most practical, political thinkers of his day. He was very active in politics and became part of the Second Continental Congress. He was a Founding Father of the United States and helped draft the Declaration of Independence. Franklin was a brilliant scientist and was credited with many inventions. Franklin was an exceptional politician and diplomat. He began to voice his political opinions at the age of sixteen, under the penname Silence Dogood. His idea of averting tyranny was widely applauded and would eventually manifest itself in the American character. He was also a champion of compromise, which he saw as a moral necessity. When the Constitutional Convention was about to break down, Franklin provided a compromise that would break through the impasse over Congressional representation.

His brilliance in diplomacy became evident during the Revolution as a member of the American envoy to Europe. He was able to gain support for the fledgling nation from France. He did so not only by appealing to their national interests but proclaiming American exceptionalism. He portrayed America as a nation that stood apart from the rest of the world because of its virtuous nature and ideals.

Some of the many contributions Franklin made to society are the Library Company, the American Philosophical Society, the Pennsylvania Hospital, and the Philadelphia Union Fire Company; all are still in existence today. First, Franklin launched the Library Company in 1731, when he noticed books were both scarce and expensive. He recognized that by pooling together resources, people could afford to buy books from England. Second, in 1743, he launched the American Philosophical Society which was the first learned society in America. Third, recognizing the city needed better help treating the sick Franklin, along with Dr. Thomas Bond, brought together a group who formed the Pennsylvania Hospital in 1751. In 1736, he organized the Philadelphia Union Fire Company which was a volunteer firefighting company and the first in the city. Later Franklin helped to found the Philadelphia Contribution for Insurance Against Loss by Fire in 1752. As a result, those who suffered fire damage to their homes and irreversible economic loss were not wiped out financially as long as they were insured.

Franklin was also a successful author. In 1733, Franklin began to publish Poor Richard's Almanack. He published his almanac under the penname Richard Saunders, who was a poor man that needed money to take care of his wife. Quotes from "Poor Richard's Proverbs," such as "A penny saved is two pence dear" which is often misquoted as "A penny saved is a