Benjamin Franklin

I didn't see it if you aren't more careful you'll sweep out everything in the shop uh I'll be careful well this is good it's excellent Mr silence do good I've never heard of the woman have you uh no sir well we'll print it in the next issue oh that's fine what uh I mean the paper can always use a good [Music] article it was not long before silence d good became a regular contributor to the New England current as the Articles attracted more and more attention young Ben Franklin threw off his disguise and admitted that mistress do good was his creation however one of the political articles which had been printed by James Franklin gave offense to the Boston authorities and he was arrested and held in prison for a month so at the age of 17 Benjamin Franklin became the alleged publisher of the current his efforts were considered excellent by many but there were those who disliked him for what they considered a two satirical attitude when James Franklin returned from prison the brothers fought constantly boys boys this is no way to behave well you speak with him father I can do nothing he's too Vain and arrogant you're James Apprentice Benjamin you must do as he says and if I don't want to what then you must you're indentured to me then I will leave you I'll work for someone else in Boston no you won't you'll stay here and do as I say and don't you try leaving the city I'll have the law bring you back James is right no one else will give you work your place is here try to get along under the strict apprenticeship laws of the time Benjamin Franklin had to continue working for his brother or take the chance of running away from Boston he sold some of his books for expense money and through a friend arranged passage on a Sloop for New York after a stop over there he continued on to Philadelphia where he had been given the name of a printer who might have some use for his Services he was a lonely and tired figure as he walked up Philadelphia's Market Street and he never dreamed that the young girl who watched him from a doorway was Deborah Reed and that someday she would be his wife soon after Franklin was introduced to Samuel kimer a printer and publisher to whom he quickly proved his ability and was given a [Music] job oh Governor Keith I mean your Excellency I'm sorry no matter young man something I can do for you sir I've been watching you for months Franklin I think you're quite clever thank you sir too clever to waste your time building someone else's business have you ever thought of starting one of your own many times sir money eh yes sir printing equipment is expensive supposing I knew a gentleman who could arrange to let you have the money how would that appeal to you that would be wonderful sir if I had the opportunity I know I could succeed I'm sure you could I would like to see this gentleman right away sir who is he me Franklin me so Benjamin Franklin went to London to buy a press but Governor Keith's promise of assistance was never kept Franklin was forced to work in until he could pay for his return to Philadelphia although he went back to his job with Samuel kimer he had not given up the idea of a business for himself he saved his money and 3 years later the opportunity presented itself and he purchased the Pennsylvania Gazette Franklin was 24 when he married Deborah Reed the girl who had observed his entrance into Philadelphia Deborah was a conscientious woman and always made a good home for [Music] him oh Deborah I didn't realize you were here oh Benjamin you work so hard at the shop no man Heir was glorious who was not laborious I think you should relax when you're at home Dost thou love life then do not squander time for such is the stuff life is made of you and your poor Richard is that what you're working on yes listen to this who is is wise he that learns from everyone who is powerful he that governs his passions who is Rich he that is content who is that nobody when 46 Benjamin Franklin was already a wealthy man and had retired from business although now a noted Civic leader and a member of the Assembly of Pennsylvania he devoted much of his time to science joking Franklin that jar will make electricity electricity like lightning you have the craziest Notions maybe but I am of the opinion that lightning is electricity what do you call this thing it is a lighten jar and uh what Miracle will this perform nothing much yet but I'm sure it will be the basis of something that will become very useful to men it's another one of your wild ideas I uh wouldn't fool wrong with that you might be stunned by this jar with this wire and this if I may quote from poor Richard being ignorant is not so much a shame as being unwilling to learn in that day most people regarded lightning with superstitious Terror firmly convinced that it was Electric Franklin conducted an experiment with a kite is it all out not yet father there that's all we have that should be high enough you say lightning is electricity but how can you be sure nothing is sure son but what makes you think you can feel electricity from just the Kite from the pointed wire that I've built into it you see the wire will draw the electric fire lightning father look [Music] anything yet father look what is it the twine the loose filaments are standing out it's electricity quick that key I gave you what is it for the kite and Twine are wet now and it should conduct the electric fire freely watch there you are son there's the proof it is electricity those fools will stop laughing at you now father you were right yes but more important my lightning rod will work too now there's no reason why every home can't be made safe to lightning in 1757 Franklin returned to London this time not as a journeyman printer but as the representative of Pennsylvania he was eminently successful and within 5 years became in effect effect spokesman for the American colonies in England when the English Parliament proposed the Stamp Act in 1764 the colonies already taxed heavily to fight it 2 years later Franklin was called to present the colonist view on this [Music] taxation no gentlemen they will never submit to this tax they will never pay it have you heard of the resolutions conting the right of parliament relating to America including the power to tax the people there yes I've heard of such resolutions what will be the opinion of The Americans on those resolutions they will think them unconstitutional and unjust wasn't an opinion in America before 1763 that Parliament had no right to lay taxes and duties there I never heard any objection to the right of laying duties to regulate commerce but a right to lay internal taxes was never supposed to be in Parliament as we are not represented there can anything less than the military force carry the Stamp Act into execution I do not see how a military force can be applied to that purpose why may it not well suppose a military force were sent into America they would find nobody in arms what then are they to do they cannot force a man to take stamps if he chooses to do without them they will find no Rebellion they may indeed make one it was largely his testimony that determined the immediate repeal of the Stamp Act after almost two decades of service to his country in London Benjamin Franklin satisfied that his usefulness there was at an end set sail for Philadelphia upon reaching home he was horrified to learn of the fighting at conord in Lexington and with the news of the actual outbreak of hostilities he was no longer a peacemaker but an Ardent supporter of the war elected a delegate to the Continental Congress he fought tirelessly for the American cause he was elected the first Postmaster General and worked with Thomas Jefferson on the Declaration of Independence in 1776 he set sail as a commissioner to France Dr Benjamin Franklin Franklin's position in France was a very delicate one for the French were not ready to take sides against Britain but after more than a year of brilliant maneuvering the Treaty of Amity and commerce was signed a victory as valuable to the United States as the winning of the Battle of Saratoga [Music] Mar we have met many times before you looking well Dr Franklin thank you it's the climate of France it pleases an old man old perhaps in years but not in mind thank you we in France we sympathize with you in your war against England Please firmly assure Congress in my friendship I hope that our treaty will be for the good of the two Nations your majesty can count on the Gratitude of Congress and the faithful observance of the Pledge we have [Music] made after 8 years in France Franklin was one of the most talked about men in the world he was loved by everyone Dr Franklin We grieve at your departure we would like to have you stay with us I'm afraid I can't I've petitioned Congress I don't know how many times asking them to recall me and now at last I can go I want to see my home again there is nothing that can change your mind nothing however you will have a fine American representative ah Mr Jefferson you're going to take Dr Franklin's place no one can replace Dr Franklin sir I am only his successor Franklin returned to Philadelphia in 1785 he served as governor of Pennsylvania and also as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention his influence constantly exerted in favor of cooperation and reasonable compromise contributed strongly to the fin [Music] agreement gentlemen gentlemen order please on the last day of the convention the Constitution was read to the assemblage and was ready for the signing gentlemen I confess there are several parts of this Constitution which I do not at present approve but I am not sure that I shall never approve them for having lived long I have experienced many instances of being obliged by better information or Fuller consideration to change opinions even on important subjects which I once thought right but found to be otherwise it is therefore that the older I grow the more apt I am to doubt my own judgment and to pay attention to the Judgment of others sir I cannot help expressing a wish that every member of the convention who may still have objections to it would with me doubt a little of his infallibility and to make manifest our unanimity put his name to this instrument Benjamin Franklin the grand old man of America often described himself as simply B Franklin printer but he was being extremely modest his autobiography became the most widely read book of its kind it was a book written by the self-made man for the middle class man it told anecdotes about his life as an apprentice about his travels about his first printing press and he wrote almost half of the book in one week as a scientist he founded the American philosophical [Music] Society his inventions were numerous among them the Franklin stove and the lightning rod he founded the Pennsylvania militia the first fire company and a hospital he founded the University of Pennsylvania and formed what was called the library company which was the foundation of our present day Public Library Benjamin Franklin died in Philadelphia at the age of 84 he was buried beside his wife in the churchyard of Christ Church it was Franklin's patience fortitude and self-sacrificing Devotion to the cause of his country that made his services so valuable at one of the most critical periods of our nation's history he will always be remembered for his inquiring mind and for the Gallant role that he played in the struggle for American independence