Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin, was the youngest of ten sons.  He also had seven sisters.  He was a very smart boy, he loved to read.  He was a hard worker, and became an apprentice printer for his brother.  His brother was very strict, so he ran away to New York City then Philadelphia.  He worked hard and made many friends.  Benjamin traveled to London and became a master printer.

He came back to Philadelphia, got married and opened his own print shop.  He loved his city and wanted to make it better.  He opened a public library, started a school, created the first Volunteer Fire Department, a night watch to stop crime, and founded a hospital.

Benjamin also liked science and inventing.  He invented a new stove to heat houses, the Franklin Stove.  He experimented with electricity, and proved that lightning was made of electricity.  This helped him create lightning rods to protect houses from lightning strikes.

The people in America were not happy with the King of England, so they asked Benjamin to go to England to help them.  But the King did not listen, so Benjamin came home.  Benjamin helped write the Declaration of Independence.  The Americans needed help to beat the English, so Benjamin went to France to get help.  He was very popular in France, and helped to get the French king to help the Americans.

He came back to America after the war.  He helped to create a new government for the United States, by helping write the Constitution.  After this Benjamin retired to read his books in peace.