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Benjamin Franklin And His Place In History
Born in Boston in 1706, Benjamin Franklin was an active lad; he tended to be the leader in games. The boys spent much time by the water and Franklin was always fascinated with the sea. He worked in his fathers tallow and soap shop by the time he was 12 but hated the work. His father loaned Ben to his brother James who was in the printing business. Ben thrived in this, learning all aspects of the printing and publishing business. When he was 16 he and James began to argue about many issues.
Here Benjamin Franklin saw his chance to change his life by taking to the sea. With only the clothes on his back and a few farthings, he set sail for New York, making it as far Perth Amboy. He walked the rest of the journey to Philadelphia, where he hoped to thrive with liked minded people as himself. One of his first acts in town was to buy three loaves of bread and proceed up the street. It happened that he walked by the house of the girl who years later became his wife,a Miss Read. He agreed he looked a miserable character.
That was around 1722, by 1749 Frannklin had been recognizzed as a genius for his discovery of electricity, the lightning rod, the Franklin Fireplace and many scientific accomplishments. He was hailed in scientific associations in England, France, Germany and elsewhere. Franklin established a learning Academy that became the University of Philadelphia, it is now the University of Pennsylvania. In 1731 Dr Thomas Hood had an idea for a hospital in the growing city, now becoming Americas largest.
He was told it wouldn't happen until he got the help of Dr. Franklin, the Doctorate an honorarium he received while in Europe. Together they created the hospital, and it was the energy and publishing ability of Franklin that made it happen. He saw to it there was always a commission for him in all the printing and reformist activities. Franklin actually moved to England in 1724 and lived overseas for more than two years, before returned to Philadelphia. He acted as an ambassador from America and had lively debates in London.
The debates could be about anything, but most often it was about whether it was reasonable to continually raise taxes of the colonists without some kind of representation for them, to no avail in advancing the colonists case. Franklin liked the English, and the French, where he played couresan games with the wives of the rich and powerful while they attended to their duties. Slowlly and gradually France came around to considering the colonies as worth considering as an ally, with one more chance to cause disruption in Englands plans for expansion.
Franklin became convinced at an early age to be a vegetarian eater and he was aware this caused consternation of his singularity in diet. He admitted in his diary that on a fishing expedition the smell of the cod when cooked overwhelmed his vegetarian vows and that since that date he could enjoy at least fish with his meal. On the national and international stage, Benjamin Franklin played a pivotal role in the American Revolution and his foreign friendshhips are legendary. America and the world owes much to this inspired genius.
About the Author Derek Dashwood finds history fascinating and how enemies at one time are friends another time American Antiques
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