Benjamin Franklin

I know very little about Benjamin Franklin because in the past he has not really interested me. I decided to learn a little more about him.

He only had two years of formal education. He spent the rest of his life learning on his own and ended up being a very educated man who invented many items we still use today. He didn't get a single patent for his inventions because he thought they were for the improvement of mankind and not to make money on.

He spent a lot of effort to improve the community. He was always pulling the community together to build programs and building for the community. He is credited with the first public hospital in America along with the first volunteer fire department and many other community organizations.

Benjamin had to spend much of his life in Europe first trying to mend the differences with England and then securing help from the French. For these long years he was separated from his wife because she was terrified of ocean travel and would not go to Europe with him. He wanted to spend time at home but put duty before his wants.

He was very opposed to revolution and thought the differences could be worked out. He finally got fed up with the arrogance of the English and supported the revolution. This caused a life long rift between him and his son.

He offered to pay for the damages from the Boston Tea Party if Parliament would make a few concessions but Parliament refused to budge on their stance.

It was very interested to learn more about Benjamin Franklin and I now have an interest to learn even more about his interesting life.