BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. BENJAMIN the great AMERICAN genius who dedicated almost his whole life for the welfare of his country and its people, was born in BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS on 17th JANUARY, 1706. He was one of the 17 children of his father JOSIAH. His mother was the second wife of his father. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, was a scientist ,an inventor ,a statesman ,a diplomat, a printer and a writer. Like many other boys during that time BENJAMIN ALSO ATTENDED SCHOOL FOR A FEW YEARS ONLY. He began training in his father’s candle manufacturing factory when he was only 10 years old .But he was not happy with this work and so his father sent him to work with his elder brother JAMES. BENJAMIN learnt to work in the heavy printing machine .He sold newspapers and also began writing articles .During his free time Benjamin studied mathematics, literature, science and also foreign languages. He was very fond of reading. In 1726, BENJAMIN settled in PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA and he bought a small newspaper, the PENNSYLVANIA GAZETTE. In spite of his poor schooling he had many ideas to improve the lives of the people He organised one of the first libraries in AMERICA. He started ONE OF THE FIRST HOSPITAS OF PHILADELPHIA and also started the first fire department .He was busy with plans to improve lights and streets of the city .He took active interest for improvement of education and founded a school which became the UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. Based in PHILADELPHIA, FRANKLIN founded the AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY, to discuss the latest scientific theories. In 1744, he invented the FRNKLIN STOVE, which was very fuel efficient, consuming less fuel but producing more heat than other stoves .Then he started his experiments with electricity. In 1752, he invented a lightning rod to keep lightning away from striking buildings and other tall structures. He also started taking interest in politics. He wrote and published many articles on politics.From1757 to1772, FRANKLIN SPENT MOST OF HIS TIME IN LONDON .He represented the colonies in BRITISH politics. He worked on many committees including the committee that wrote the DECLARATION OF INDEPENCENCE. He spent most of the war years in EUROPE as a diplomat, representing the AMERICAN CONGRESS. When the war ended he helped negotiation a peace treaty with GREAT BRITAIN. The treaty was signed in 1783, recognised AMERICAN independence and ended the long war. PENNSYLVANIA sent FRANKLIN as a delegate to the 1787 convention that planned and wrote the UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION. He was the oldest delegate. FRANKLIN remained interested in social causes in his old age. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN died on APRIL 17, 1790. His wisdom, wit and hard work are well remembered by the AMERICANS. ( prepared with the help of an article published in THE ASSAM TRIBUNE. ) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted on: Mon, 10 Mar 2014 04:22:58 +0000
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