Benjamin franklin brief biography of harper

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Franklin, Benjamin 1706-1790

Statesman; born in Boston, Jan. 17, 1706. His father was from England; his mother was a daughter of Peter Folger, the Quakerpoet of Nantucket. He learned the art of printing with his brother; but they disagreeing, Benjaminleft Bostonwhen seventeen years of age, sought employment in New York, but, not succeeding, went to Philadelphia, and there found it. He soon attracted the attention of Governor Keithas a very bright lad, who, making him a promise of the government printing, induced young Franklin, at the age of eighteen, to go to Englandand purchase printing material. He was deceived, and remained there eighteen months, working as a journeyman printer in London. He returned to Philadelphialate in 1726, and in 1729 established himself there as a printer. He started the Pennsylvania gazette, and married Deborah Read, a young woman whose husband had absconded. For many years he published an almanac under the assumed name of Richard Saunders. It became widely known as Poor Richard's almanac, as it contained many wise and useful maxims, mostly from the ancients. Franklinwas soon marked as a wise, prudent, and [419] sagacious man, full of well-directed public spirit. He was the chief founder of the Philadelphia Libraryin 1731. He became clerk of t

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