Ben Franklin

Posted October 4, 2007, 3:31 pm by Growing Bolder


Ben Franklin
Born: Jan. 17, 1706 Died: April 17, 1790

One of America's founding fathers, Ben Franklin became famous for being a printer, author, diplomat, philosopher, scientist, inventor and one of America's greatest statesmen. His inventions included the lightning rod, bifocals, the odometer and the Franklin stove.

After the Age of Sixty
In 1775, the 69-year-old Franklin became one of the committee of five chosen to draft the Declaration of Independence.

He was also one of the signers of that historic document, addressing the assembly with the characteristic statement: "We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately."

On Feb. 6, 1778, Franklin negotiated the Treaty of Commerce and Defensive Alliance with France that represented, in effect, the turning point of the American Revolution.

At age 79, he was chosen president of the Pennsylvania Executive Council, a position he held from 1785 to 87.

At age 81, he was elected a delegate to the Constitutional Convention and signed the Constitution.

At age 83, he invented bifocals. That same year, he completed one of his final public acts -- writing an anti-slavery treatise.    



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