Born January 17, 1706, Benjamin Franklin was an American polymath: author, journalist, printer, politician, inventor, statesman, postmaster, and activist. He is commonly called "The First American" due to his activity involving the colonial well-being and the eventual American Revolution. He wrote "Poor Richard's Almanack" and was the 6th President of Pennsylvania from 1785 to 1788, a delegate to the Second Continental Congress from Pennsylvania, and a member of the "Committee of Five" which was tasked with drafting the Declaration of Independence. Once independence was won, he was the first United States Minister to France from 1778 to 1785, and the first United States Postmaster General, having invented traction kiting, which was a method to pull people and ships across waterways, and the concept of the post office. He established a common-law marriage with Deborah Read, his childhood sweetheart, in 1730 and they remained married until she died in 1774 while Benjamin was in England. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts Bay and died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on April 17, 1790.
Regular Blogs
Kenneth Lange: Ben Franklin Series
The blogger pays homage to Franklin's book "The Art of Virtue" by writing an essay about each of his thirteen virtues and giving examples of historical figures who lived each of those virtues.
http://www.kennethlange.com/benjamin_franklin/introduction.html
Stream of Consciousness: Benjamin Franklin
Presents a different Ben Franklin quote as well as the date he said or wrote it and the circumstances under which they were written or spoken.
http://blog.gaiam.com/quotes/authors/benjamin-franklin
This blog centers on Benjamin Franklin and touches on his life, his reputation, his wisdom, his contribution to American independence, and his inventions.
http://benjaminfranklinblog.blogspot.com
