Franklin was an ideas man; he lived and breathed education and the free-flow of knowledge. It was to this end that Franklin created Junto in 1727, a group focused on stimulating a dialogue on the scientific and political ideas of the time, later becoming the American Philosophical Society. He also created the nation’s first public library in 1731, which would later come to be known as the Philadelphia Library.
In 1733, again under a pen name, Franklin started publishing Poor Richard’s Almanac, the now-famous publication, which in addition to containing regular almanac information, also held many of the proverbs that have since entered the country’s regular vocabulary and for which Franklin became legendary. It was an extremely successful venture, selling over 10,000 copies for each of the 25 years over which it was produced.
Franklin was now beginning to take a more active interest in public affairs. In 1736, he created the Union Fire Company, the first volunteer fire-fighting company in the U.S. Seven years later, he founded The Academy and College of Philadelphia, later to become the Ivy League University of Pennsylvania, to which he was appointed President. In 1951, Franklin established Pennsylvania Hospital, the first of its kind in the new nation. He would also later donate money towards the establishment of Franklin College, today’s Franklin and Marshall College.
In 1748, Franklin officially retired from the printing business, although he continued writing literature and satirical essays throughout the rest of his life. He now began to take a more formal role in public life, becoming councilman, Justice of the Peace in Pennsylvania and elected member of the Assembly. Five years later, he was appointed Joint Deputy Postmaster-General of North America. He served in England as Colonial Representative of Pennsylvania, Georgia, New Jersey and Massachusetts from 1757-1775 and as an ambassador to France on numerous occasions. He also became an abolitionist and president of The Society for the Relief of Free Negroes Unlawfully Held in Bondage.
In perhaps his most well known feat, Franklin began working towards independence as part of the Committee of Five that drafted the Declaration of Independence. In 1787, after he had retired from public office, he attended a series of meetings that would result in the United States Constitution. He became the only Founding Father to sign all three of the country’s major founding documents: The Declaration of Independence, The Treaty of Paris and the U.S. Constitution.
In addition to public office, Franklin began to carry out research that would occupy his energy and interest for the rest of his life. A gifted scientist, Franklin spent much time experimenting with his scientific inquiries. Even without any formal education, Franklin had one of the most advanced minds of the time. Among his many inventions were the lightning rod, bifocal classes, the catheter, swimming fins, the glass harmonica and the Franklin stove. He also refused to patent his work, encouraging the free use of any information obtained from his research.
On April 17, 1790, Franklin died. He was 84 years old – another significant feat for his time. His legacy continues to live on through the likes of scholarships, monuments and the $100 U.S. bill on which Franklin’s face lies. A leader of both the American Revolution and the Enlightenment, Franklin gained the respect of his peers both then and now, 300 years later.
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