Benjamin Franklin Myth
To understand this myth, we must know it. This myth springs forth from the Auto –Biography of Benjamin Franklin. In this book, Benjamin Franklin details his journey from rags to riches. He was born on January 17th, 1706 as the youngest of ten sons of a soap and candle maker. His father, in hopes of persuading his son to enter the clergy, sent him to grammar school. Sadly, his father could only afford to send young Benjamin for two years, ending his formal education at the tender age of ten. From ages ten to twelve, Benjamin works in his father’s business while reading what he could of his father’s small collection of books and reading materials his meager wages would afford him. After being unsuccessful in steering Benjamin into the clergy,
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This idea evolved into the idea of a subscription library, whereby the dues of the members could be pooled to purchase books that all could share. This collection would be held by the Library Company of Philadelphia, an organization that Benjamin personally wrote the charter for. Benjamin entrusted this collect by hiring America’s first librarian Louis Timothee. After accomplishing all this, at the age of twenty-two, Benjamin went about setting up his own printing house in Philadelphia. With this medium, Franklin spread forth his humor and wisdom to his readers. Becoming very popular, he used his profits to continue to improve himself and his community. With one hand he flew kites into storms to prove that lightning was composed of electricity while creating one of the first volunteer firefighting companies in America. Through his ingenuity and success, Benjamin Franklin was able to retire in 1747 at the age of forty-one. This free up his time to enter politics and help forge the United States of America. After all his grand accomplishments, as he neared the end of his life, he wrote down the story of his life which were published shortly after his death. With this final gift, he gave the citizens of a new nation an outline of his life and virtues upon which he made
This idea evolved into the idea of a subscription library, whereby the dues of the members could be pooled to purchase books that all could share. This collection would be held by the Library Company of Philadelphia, an organization that Benjamin personally wrote the charter for. Benjamin entrusted this collect by hiring America’s first librarian Louis Timothee. After accomplishing all this, at the age of twenty-two, Benjamin went about setting up his own printing house in Philadelphia. With this medium, Franklin spread forth his humor and wisdom to his readers. Becoming very popular, he used his profits to continue to improve himself and his community. With one hand he flew kites into storms to prove that lightning was composed of electricity while creating one of the first volunteer firefighting companies in America. Through his ingenuity and success, Benjamin Franklin was able to retire in 1747 at the age of forty-one. This free up his time to enter politics and help forge the United States of America. After all his grand accomplishments, as he neared the end of his life, he wrote down the story of his life which were published shortly after his death. With this final gift, he gave the citizens of a new nation an outline of his life and virtues upon which he made