Benjamin franklin pennsylvania biography of williams

She entertained and diverted us highly with stories of Thomas Franklin, Mrs. Fisher's father, who was a conveyancer, something of a lawyer, clerk of the county courts, and clerk to the Archdeacon in his visitations; a very leading man in all county affairs, and much employed in public business. He was alike successful at Birmingham. First, we found out one of the Cashes, and he went with us to Rebecca Flint's, where we saw her and her husband.

She is a turner and he a buttonmaker; they have no children; were very glad to see any person that knew their sister Wilkinson; told us what letters they had received, and showed us some of them; and even showed us that they had, out of respect, preserved a keg, in which they had received a present of some sturgeon. They sent for their brother, Joshua North, who came with his wife immediately to see us; he is a turner also, and has six children, a lively, active man.

Flint desired me to tell her sister, that they live still in the old house she left them in, which I think she says was their father's. On his return to London he pursued his inquiries still further, and "found out a daughter of his fathers only sister, very old and never married; a good, clever woman, but poor, though vastly contented with her situation, and very cheerful.

His manner of speaking on this subject, in both his autobiography and his letters, shows that he took much delight in seeking out and rendering kindness to the members of his family, even where the relationship was remote, although they were all in humble life, and many of them poor; and there are evidences of his substantial and continued bounty to such as were in a needy condition.

At Birmingham he became acquainted with the celebrated type founder and printer, Baskerville, one of those men, the results of whose labors prove how much can be achieved in the arts by resolution, perseverance, and an energetic devotion to a favorite object. Franklin always loved the profession by which he had first gained a livelihood and afterwards a liberal competency; and, even when he had risen to eminence, and whilst he associated with statesmen and courtiers, he was fond of talking with printers, entering into their schemes, and suggesting or aiding improvements in their art.

So far was he from being reserved on the subject of his early condition and pursuits, that he often alluded to them as giving value to his experience, and as furnishing incidents illustrative of his maxims of life. One day at his dinner-table in Passy, surrounded by men of rank and fashion, a young gentleman was present who had just arrived from Philadelphia.

He showed a marked kindness to the young stranger, conversed with him about the friends he had left at home, and then said, "I have been under obligation to your family; when I set up business in Philadelphia, being in debt for my printing materials and wanting employment, the first job I had was a pamphlet written by your grandfather; it gave me encouragement and was the beginning of my success.

After passing a few days at Tunbridge Wells, his health being much improved by travel and recreation, he went back to London and established himself again at his lodgings. Nor was he neglectful of his public duties. It was not possible to advance in the business of his mission, till the government should be ready to give it a hearing; but the press, which had been freely employed to calumniate the Pennsylvanians, was open to his used His friends, who understood the state of opinion in England, advised him to resort to it, as affording the best means of counteracting the errors that were abroad, and defeating the arts by which they were disseminated.

Speaking of Mr. Charles, an eminent lawyer employed as counsel on the part of the Assembly, he says in an official letter, "One thing, that he recommends to be done before we push our point in Parliament, is, removing the prejudices, that art and accident have spread among the people of this country against us, and obtaining for us the good opinion of the bulk of mankind without doors.

This I hope we have it in our power to do, by means of a work now nearly ready for the press, calculated to engage the attention of many readers, and at the same time to efface the bad impression received of us; but it is thought best not to publish it, till a little before the next session of Parliament. The work, here alluded to, was the Historical Review of Pennsylvania , rendered famous not more on account of the ability with which it is written and the matter it contains, than of the abuse it brought up on Franklin as its supposed author.

It was published anonymously near the beginning of the year It is the professed object of the writer to support the cause of the Assembly and people of. Pennsylvania against the encroachments and arbitrary designs of the Proprietaries. With this aim, he sketches the political history of the provide from its first settlement; and, in executing his task, he is led occasionally to touch with considerable severity upon the transactions both of William Penn and of his descendants.

As a composition, the treatise possesses merits of a high order. The style is vigorous and clear, always well sustained, and rising sometimes to eloquence. The Dedication and Introduction, especially, are finished specimens of their kind. The tone and sentiments of the work may be inferred from the motto; "Those, who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.

As a history, however, it wants the essential requisites of completeness and impartiality. Yet there is no disguise about it. From the first page to the last the reader is made to see and, understand the writer's drift and purpose, which are, to describe in strong language the oppressions under which the people have struggled, and to vindicate them from the censures of their enemies.

This is done, in the first place by copious abstracts and selections from public records and documents, and, next, by such deductions and arguments as seem naturally to flow from them. As to the facts, there can be no doubt of their accuracy, since they are all drawn from authentic sources. The reader is left to judge bow well they bear out the inferences and arguments.

In short, the writer's statements, as far as they go, cannot be charged with misrepresentation or with essential errors in point of fact. Their chief fault is, that they exhibit only one side of the subject. The evils of the proprietary system, emanating from its inherent defects and a vicious administration, are represented in glowing colors, while the advantages derived from it, such as they were, have no place in his picture.

The partisans of the Proprietaries, in England and Pennsylvania, eagerly ascribed this performance to the pen of Franklin, the leader of the popular party, whose influence and talents they most dreaded. Among the chief accomplishments of Franklin in this era was helping to launch the Library Company in During this time books were scarce and expensive.

Franklin recognized that by pooling together resources, members could afford to buy books from England. Thus was born the nation's first subscription library. In , he helped to launch the American Philosophical Society, the first learned society in America. Recognizing that the city needed better help in treating the sick, Franklin brought together a group who formed the Pennsylvania Hospital in Fires were very dangerous threat to Philadelphians, so Franklin set about trying to remedy the situation.

In , he organized Philadelphia's Union Fire Company, the first in the city. His famous saying, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," was actually fire-fighting advice. Those who suffered fire damage to their homes often suffered irreversible economic loss. Those with insurance policies were not wiped out financially.

The Contributionship is still in business today. Franklin's printing business was thriving in this s and s. He also started setting up franchise printing partnerships in other cities. By he retired from business and started concentrating on science, experiments, and inventions. This was nothing new to Franklin. In , he had already invented a heat-efficient stove — called the Franklin stove — to help warm houses efficiently.

As the stove was invented to help improve society, he refused to take out a patent. Among Franklin's other inventions are swim fins, the glass armonica a musical instrument and bifocals.

Benjamin franklin pennsylvania biography of williams

In the early 's he turned to the study of electricity. His observations, including his kite experiment which verified the nature of electricity and lightning brought Franklin international fame. Politics became more of an active interest for Franklin in the s. In , he went to England to represent Pennsylvania in its fight with the descendants of the Penn family over who should represent the Colony.

He remained in England to , as a Colonial representative not only of Pennsylvania, but of Georgia, New Jersey and Massachusetts as well. Early in his time abroad, Franklin considered himself a loyal Englishman. England had many of the amenities that America lacked. The country also had fine thinkers, theater, witty conversation — things in short supply in America.

He kept asking Deborah to come visit him in England. He had thoughts of staying there permanently, but she was afraid of traveling by ship. In , Franklin was caught by surprise by America's overwhelming opposition to the Stamp Act. His testimony before Parliament helped persuade the members to repeal the law. He started wondering if America should break free of England.

Franklin, though he had many friends in England, was growing sick of the corruption he saw all around him in politics and royal circles. The clever, humorous letters captivated the newspaper's audience, showcasing Franklin's burgeoning talent and wit. This formative period laid the groundwork for his future accomplishments as a writer, inventor, and statesman.

Benjamin Franklin's career in printing and writing began at a young age, influenced by his father's struggling business. At just 12 years old, he was apprenticed to his brother James, who ran a printing shop. Though the apprenticeship was marked by mistreatment from his brother, it provided Franklin with a solid foundation in the world of newspapers and printing.

His love for writing blossomed during this time, leading him to write under the pseudonym Mrs. Silence Dogood, charming readers with witty letters published in The New England Courant—a publication managed by his brother. In , following the tumultuous relationship with his brother, Franklin moved to Philadelphia, where he found new opportunities.

He worked for another printer and soon recognized the potential of starting his own print shop. By , he had established himself as the official printer for Pennsylvania and published the widely read Pennsylvania Gazette. His talent for merging humor with serious content shone through in his writing and publication of Poor Richard's Almanack, which became a staple for American readers and solidified his reputation as a premier thinker and writer of his time.

Benjamin Franklin was a quintessential polymath whose achievements spanned the fields of science and politics, leaving an indelible mark on American history. In the realm of science, Franklin's keen intellect led to groundbreaking discoveries, notably in electricity. His famous kite-and-key experiment in demonstrated that lightning was a form of electricity, which ultimately resulted in the invention of the lightning rod, changing the safety precautions of buildings forever.

In addition to his scientific contributions, Franklin was a pivotal figure in American politics. He was crucial in the drafting of foundational documents such as the Declaration of Independence and the U. His diplomatic skills were vital in securing French support during the Revolutionary War, culminating in the Treaty of Paris in , which officially ended the conflict.

His multifaceted legacy as a scientist and statesman exemplifies the spirit of innovation and collaboration that characterized the founding of the United States. Benjamin Franklin spent a significant part of his later years in Paris, where he served as an ambassador for the newly formed United States. Appointed in , Franklin's mission in France was pivotal; he sought military and financial support for the American Revolution.

Receives the Thanks of the Assembly. Origin of the Stamp Act. Franklin was to have an Office under him. Franklin is appointed Agent for Georgia. Strahan's Queries. Franklin meditates a Return to America. Hutchinson's Letters. Cooper's Remarks on that Occasion.