HAPPY 300th BIRTHDAY BENJAMIN FRANKLIN!

Born - January 17, 1706

His Early Days:
* Born the 15th of 17 children. His father was a soap-maker.
* Not having much money, his father could only afford only one year of school for Benjamin growing up.
* He worked in his brother's printing press as a child.
* Ran away from home at 17 to escape abusive older brother and started work in printing shop in Philadelphia.
* Worked hard, saved and borrowed money and bought the "Pennsylvania Gazette" at age 23.

Citizen:
* Published "Poor Richard's Almanac" in 1733 at age 27.
* Began community projects to help clean, pave and light the streets of Philadelphia.
* Co-founded University of Pennsylvania.
* 1731: Founded the nations first subscription library, The Library Company (The Philadelphia Library).
* 1736: Organized nation's the 1st Fire Department and 1st Police Department.
* 1743: Founded the American Philosophical Society.
* 1751: Co-founded the Pennsylvania Hospital, the first public hospital in the nation.
* 1752: Founded the "Philadelphia Contribution for Insurance Against Loss by Fire" to help families who lost homes due to fire.
* 1774: Co-founded America's first anti-slavery society - The Society to Abolish Slavery.
* 1789: First person to ever formally address the U.S. Congress on behalf of abolishing slavery.

Inventor:
* Franklin Stove.
* Swim fins.
* The glass armonica.
* Bifocal glasses.
* Lightning rod.
* Flexible urinary catheter.
* First developed the idea of daylight savings time.
* Elected to the French Academy of Sciences and London's Royal Society.
* Honorary degrees from Oxford and University of St. Andrew.

Statesman:
* America's first Postmaster General, organizing the first nation-wide Postal Service.
* Helped Thomas Jefferson write the Declaration of Independance.
* Served as Ambassador to France to help win French monetary and military support for the American Revolution.
* Was a co-signer to the Treaty of Paris, ending the American Revolution.
* Was a co-signer to the U.S. Constitution.
* Was the only person to sign the Declaration of Independance, Treaty of Paris, Articles of Confederation and the Constitution.

Wisdom:
* "Well done is better than well said."
* "God helps them that help themselves."
* "Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise."
* "Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today."
* "The Constitution only guarantees the American people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself."
* "When the people find they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic."
* "We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately."
* "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
* "Rebellion against tyrants is obedience to God."
* "Even peace may be purchased at too high a price."
* "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
* "Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote." (attributed)


Benjamin Franklin was immensely popular during his time. People from all walks of life on both sides of the Atlantic knew and respected him. A scientist, philosopher, author and one of the most influential and important Founding Fathers of our nation's history. Truly an American Renaissance Man for the ages.  

Happy Birthday Ben.


"A Republic, if you can keep it."
~ Benjamin Franklin, answering a citizen's question about what kind of government the Founding Fathers were creating.

Old fart

Woot

A great American.

* "When the people find they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic."

Does this mean the party is over now?

* "When the people find they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic."

He sure had that one nailed.  

I guess FDR started us down that path for real.  

Quoted: members.cox.net/_themacallan/benF2.jpg HAPPY 300th BIRTHDAY BENJAMIN FRANKLIN! Born - January 17, 1706 His Early Days: * Born the 15th of 17 children. His father was a soap-maker. * Not having much money, his father could only afford only one year of school for Benjamin growing up. * He worked in his brother's printing press as a child. * Ran away from home at 17 to escape abusive older brother and started work in printing shop in Philadelphia. * Worked hard, saved and borrowed money and bought the "Pennsylvania Gazette" at age 23. Citizen: * Published "Poor Richard's Almanac" in 1733 at age 27. * Began community projects to help clean, pave and light the streets of Philadelphia. * Co-founded University of Pennsylvania. * 1731: Founded the nations first subscription library, The Library Company (The Philadelphia Library). * 1736: Organized nation's the 1st Fire Department and 1st Police Department. * 1743: Founded the American Philosophical Society. * 1751: Co-founded the Pennsylvania Hospital, the first public hospital in the nation. * 1752: Founded the "Philadelphia Contribution for Insurance Against Loss by Fire" to help families who lost homes due to fire. * 1774: Co-founded America's first anti-slavery society - The Society to Abolish Slavery. * 1789: First person to ever formally address the U.S. Congress on behalf of abolishing slavery. Inventor: * Franklin Stove. * Swim fins. * The glass armonica. * Bifocal glasses. * Lightning rod. * Flexible urinary catheter. * First developed the idea of daylight savings time. * Elected to the French Academy of Sciences and London's Royal Society. * Honorary degrees from Oxford and University of St. Andrew. Statesman: * America's first Postmaster General, organizing the first nation-wide Postal Service. * Helped Thomas Jefferson write the Declaration of Independance. * Served as Ambassador to France to help win French monetary and military support for the American Revolution. * Was a co-signer to the Treaty of Paris, ending the American Revolution. * Was a co-signer to the U.S. Constitution. * Was the only person to sign the Declaration of Independance, Treaty of Paris, Articles of Confederation and the Constitution. Wisdom: * "Well done is better than well said." * "God helps them that help themselves." * "Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise." * "Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today." * "The Constitution only guarantees the American people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself." * "When the people find they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic." * "We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately." * "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." * "Rebellion against tyrants is obedience to God." * "Even peace may be purchased at too high a price." * "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." * "Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote." (attributed) Benjamin Franklin was immensely popular during his time. People from all walks of life on both sides of the Atlantic knew and respected him. A scientist, philosopher, author and one of the most influential and important Founding Fathers of our nation's history. Truly an American Renaissance Man for the ages.   Happy Birthday Ben. "A Republic, if you can keep it." ~ Benjamin Franklin, answering a citizen's question about what kind of government the Founding Fathers were creating.

See sigline.

Dang, I think we have a man that even Chuck Norris would look up to! Seriously though,I played Mr. Franklin in a school play once and I was SO excited because I thought then ( and still do ) that he was a great American!

he supposedly banged everything in sight  kinda like Clinton

Quoted: he supposedly banged everything in sight  kinda like Clinton

This is from memory so don't beat me up but I recall a quote by a historian or someone who was familiar with his life that said that the portrayal in "1776" is quite true to form, that if he was to meet Benjamin in the Afterlife he would be expecting just that character.

1776, probably the only musical that I really and truly enjoy watching.

January 17 is also the date that the Battle of Cowpens was fought.

273 years to the day that I was born too!

bump

Well I'm glad I am in good company.

I was born Jan 17, 1980.

Cool!!!!!  What a great guy!

Thanks The_Macallan!


WBK

One hell of a model American.

He was a great man.

You mentioned that he invented bifocals.  He had two pair of glasses, one for reading and one for seeing far away.  One day he thought, why not combine these, so I don't have to switch them so often?

He cut them into halves, and placed the far away ones on the top and the close up ones on the bottom of his frames.  And there it was.

A man that was always thinking.

Happy Birthday Ben

Happy Birthday Brother Ben