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Franklin, Benjamin. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. Simon & Schuster, 2004.

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Franklin says that he has enjoyed his life and would like to repeat it, although he would like to correct some small errors if the opportunity arose. But since Franklin cannot repeat life, he can instead recollect it. He thanks God for allowing him to live a good life.

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https://www.amphilsoc.org/

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The American Philosophical Society is the oldest learned society in the United States. Founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1743, it continues its mission of "promoting useful knowledge" through research, fellowships, and public outreach.

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The American Philosophical Society is the oldest learned society in the United States. Founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1743, it continues its mission of "promoting useful knowledge" through research, fellowships, and public outreach.

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Franklin is writing in the summer of 1771 on vacation in a small town about 50 miles south of London. Franklin says that because his son may wish to know about his life, he is taking his one week vacation in the English countryside to record his past.

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http://www.benfranklin300.org/

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The 300th-year anniversary of Benjamin Franklin's birth (1706-2006) marked the national celebration honoring the life and enduring legacy of one of our most remarkable founding fathers.

Explore this site to find out about the celebration, to learn about the traveling library exhibition Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World, to investigate the interactive exhibition timeline, to find an array of educational materials, to learn about Franklin's material world, to read what Ben says, and more...

The legacy of Franklin's 300th birthday is being continued by Franklin & Marshall College.

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benjamin franklin: in search of a better world

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franklin january 17 2006 american philosophical society

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The 300th-year anniversary of Benjamin Franklin's birth (1706-2006) marked the national celebration honoring the life and enduring legacy of one of our most remarkable founding fathers.

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Franklin has been the youngest son of a youngest son for five generations. He tells of his grandfather and uncles, and he includes some poetry from his well respected uncle Benjamin.

Quote #1

" because to be a Libeller, (says he)
I hate it with my heart.
From Sherburne Town where I dwell,
My name I do put here,
Without offence, your real friend,
It is Peter Folgier" (8)

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Franklin did not know his parents were sick. He says they were so good to him and his siblings that they did not know they were both sick. They both died at the age of 85.

Quote #2

" My mother has likewise an excellent Constitution. She suckled all her 10 children. I never knew either my father or mother to have any sickness but of which they died. He at 89 and she at 85. " (10)

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Ben himself, the 15th of 17 children, was born in Boston on January 17, 1706. Most of Benjamin's brothers became apprentices in various trades, as was the custom in the 18th century.

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Ben was put into grammar school with the intent that he would later go into the church. He quickly rose to the head of his class, and before long he was sent to a different grammar school to develop his writing and math skills. Although he failed at math, he was very good at writing.

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Ben writes that he admired his father, who he deems was generally respected in town. Josiah taught Ben the crucial skill of debate, which would forever more come in handy. As a tribute to his parents, Ben had them buried in a prominent Boston graveyard near Boston Common.

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Throughout his teens, Franklin read many books that changed the way he lives his life and he developed a number of new ideas, including vegetarianism.

Quote #3

" When about 16 years of age, I happened to meet with a book, written by one Tyron, recommending a vegetable diet and I determined to get into it. " (15)

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Franklin worked as a delivery boy for the New England Courant which James started. Meanwhile, he worked hard at writing. When he published anonymously one of his articles and overheard his brother praising it (not knowing Ben had written it), Ben developed much confidence in his style.

Quote # 4

" They read it, commented on it in my Hearing, and I had the exquisite pleasure, of finding it met with their approbation. Encouraged however by this, I wrote and conveyed in the same way to the press several more papers, which were approved." (19)

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# 10 Traveling young trying to find work

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# 10 Traveling young trying to find work

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At age 17, he secretly leaves home and traveled to New York City. He finds no work there , but learns that he could get a job in Philadelphia working for a printer named Andrew Bradford.

Quote #5

" If you go there they might employ you. Philadelphia was 100 miles farther. I set out, however, in a boat for Amboy" (22)

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Franklin gets a job at a famous printing house called Palmer's where Franklin works for the next year while living with Ralph. Ralph slowly forgets his wife and children and Franklin forgets Miss Read as they live life to the fullest, always having fun and always going broke.

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https://franklinpapers.yale.edu/

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The Papers of Benjamin Franklin Yale University Library P.O. Box 208240 New Haven, CT 06520-8240 203-432-1814

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When the House votes in favor of paper currency, they hire Franklin to print it, which brings him good income. He was later hired to print even more government documents.

Quote #6

"I presented him an inventory and he lik'd it..." (34)

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He finally marries Miss Read, on September 1, 1730. It is her second marriage. Her first husband abandoned her. She helps Franklin in his "first project of a public nature": a subscription library, which Franklin founds as the first library in America.

Quote # 7

" I had a great respect and affection for her, and had some reason to believe she had the same for me." (36)

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He mentioned that the library he started in 1730 was a big success. He had bought books from England because there were no good bookstores in Philadelphia. His library, he writes, helped "reading become fashionable.

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He uses the library for his own mental development, and meanwhile he manages to support his family based on "industry and frugality." He saves money wherever possible.

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As he moves further into adulthood, Franklin takes up more political issues, advocating publicly the education of women, particularly in accounting. He flourishes intellectually, learning French, Italian, Spanish and Latin.

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He is particularly hurt, for instance, when his son dies at the age of four, although he does not give the event any more than brief mention. Despite hardships, he does return to Boston for a visit to see his family, and he makes amends with his brother, James helping him with printing types.

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He also draws a plan for setting up the government during the war. He works closely with the Governors of Pennsylvania and New York, a task that requires extensive travel.

Quote #8

" Among my friends in the house I must not forget Mr. Hamilton before mentioned..." (62)

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As the 1730s and '40s go on, Franklin becomes more and more successful. His newspaper does very well, and he has a good relationship with his printing office in the Carolinas.

Quote #9

" Our first papers made quite different appearance from any before in the province, a better type and better printed." (62)

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Although he is super successful he has many flaws. Even with the flaws he tries to be the best man he can be. He tries to fix all of his problems and he thanks god for it.

Quote #10

" And I doubted whenever some error had occurred, I stay thankful and..." (57)

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https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/benjamin-franklin/

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Benjamin Franklin | Ken Burns | PBS | Benjamin Franklin: A Ken Burns Film | Premieres 4/4 on PBS

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Ken Burns's two-part, four-hour documentary, Benjamin Franklin, explores the revolutionary life of one of the 18th century's most consequential and compelling personalities, whose work and words unlocked the mystery of electricity and helped create the United States.

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https://npg.si.edu/exh/franklin/index.htm

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Franklin and His Friends: Portraying the Man of Science in Eighteenth-Century America | Benjamin Franklin