Words: 411
Franklin was one of seventeen children born to the parents of Josiah Franklin and Bah Folder. His father wanted Benjamin to go to school to become a clergyman, but he only had enough to send him to school for one year. Clergymen needed years of school. Benjamin ended up being apprenticed to his brother James. James was a printer and Benjamin helped him. When Benjamin was fifteen his brother started the New England Currant.
It was the first ever newspaper made and distributed in Boston. Benjamin wanted to write for the newspaper as well, but he knew that James wouldn’t let him because he is just his lowly apprentice. So, to get his writing in the newspaper he would write his stories at night and sign them with the alibi, Silence Dogwood. Then he would slip them under the print shop’s door so it would seem like a stranger left it there to be put in the newspaper.
After Benjamin wrote about sixteen letters he confessed to being Silence Dogwood. James did not like this. He was jealous of all the attention Benjamin was getting and he scolded him. In 1 733 he started publishing Poor Richards Almanac. Almanacs of the time were printed once every year, and contained things like weather reports, recipes, predictions and homilies. Franklin published his almanac under the name of Richard Saunders, a poor man who needed money to take care of his wife.
Although Benjamin printing business thrived he retired during 1749. Now he could put his focus on science and making inventions. Benjamin invented things such as the lightning rod, bifocals, the Franklin stove, and the odometer. 1706 1 720 1727 1752 1790 born 1715 out he moves has an affair resulting in a son 1723 1735 1 771 tours inducts dies was kite experiment formal schooling Last year of Sesame’s printing Benjamin was writer, takes over James dies Ireland political leader, inventor, and a scientist.
Q. DO you believe you did enough in your life? A. Yes. I have made several inventions that helped save lives and just ordinary things. Q. Do you think it was fair for James to scold you about your articles? A. Yes. I went behind his back, but did spark a lot of interest in the newspaper. Q. Did you ever see your son? Ayes. I saw him at England. Q. What motivated you to invent? A. I had a passion for it and I loved helping.