Benjamin Franklin was president. Benjamin Franklin inventions. Time is money

Benjamin Franklin refers to that select circle of American politicians, whose portrait is well known to Russians. Since 1914, his image has graced the $100 bill, a favorite savings option both in Russia and in many other countries around the world.

At the same time, when you ask the question “Who is Benjamin Franklin?”, you will most likely hear the answer: “American President.”

This is mistake. This truly unique person, who brilliantly showed himself in various fields of activity, did not hold the post of President of the United States. Perhaps only because he did not have enough life for this, already rich and extremely rich in events.

He was born on January 16, 1706 in Boston, on Milk Street, in the family of an English immigrant. Josiah Franklin. To say that the Franklin family was big is to say nothing: Benjamin was the 15th child in the family.

Josiah, who made soap and candles, dreamed of giving his children a good education, but there was not enough money for this. The father managed to pay only for two years of Benjamin's elementary school education. From the age of 10, the boy began to help his father in his work, and two years later he began working as an apprentice in the printing house of his brother James. Printing became his main specialty for many years.

The Hardworking "Lark"

Benjamin realized early on that he could only achieve success in life through his own hard work. He devoted a lot of time to self-education, and self-organization and discipline were the basis of his performance.

Throughout his life, he got up very early, at 5 in the morning, meticulously planned the upcoming day and then proceeded to implement the plan. “He who gets up late must run all day to barely complete all his business by night,” Franklin said.

In 1723, Franklin was in Philadelphia, and the governor of the colony sent him to London; he spent a year and a half in the British capital.

Franklin's attitude towards the mother country has changed over the years. Until 1765, he viewed the North American colonies as an integral part of the British Empire. Then he leaned towards the idea of ​​a federation, where the rights of the colonies were to become the same as the rights of the mother country. And only then, already being a politician who failed to achieve the expansion of the rights of the colonies in the British Parliament, Franklin spoke of complete independence.

But in the 1720s, this was still a long way off. Returning from London, in 1727 Franklin set up his own printing press in Philadelphia. A year later, he founded the Philadelphia debating circle of artisans and merchants, the Leather Apron Club (Junto), which became the American Philosophical Society in 1743.

Postmaster exploring the Gulf Stream

In 1729, Benjamin Franklin began publishing The Pennsylvania Gazette, and three years later, the annual Poor Richard's Almanac. In the latter one could find a lot of teachings, useful recommendations, sayings, aphorisms, the author of many of which was Franklin himself. For example, the famous expression "Time is money" was coined by Franklin.

In 1737, Franklin, by that time already a well-known and successful person, was appointed postmaster of Pennsylvania, and from 1753 became postmaster of all North American colonies.

In this position, he was able to combine the skills of an administrator and the curiosity of a scientist. Franklin drew attention to the fact that mail packets departing from the English port of Falmouth to New York traveled two weeks longer than ordinary merchant ships from London to New Port, located somewhat east of New York. It turned out that the Gulf Stream was to blame. The mail ships were commanded by English sailors who were not familiar with this current, and the merchant ships were commanded by American sailors who from their youth took part in the sea trades off the coast of America. At Franklin's urging, sailors began charting their observations, resulting in the first map of the Gulf Stream.

From lightning rod to rocking chair

Science, above all physics, was Franklin's true passion. He owns a number of inventions, the most famous of which was the lightning rod. A description of Franklin's device appeared in 1752 in his Poor Richard's Almanac: raise the other above the highest part of the building. Attach to the upper end of the rod a foot-long copper wire as thick as a knitting needle, sharpened like a needle. The rod can be attached to the wall of the house with twine (cord). On a tall house or barn, you can put two rods, one at each end, and connect them with a wire stretched under the roof ridges. A house protected by such a device is not afraid of lightning, since the tip will attract it to itself and take it along a metal rod to the ground, and it will no longer harm anyone. In the same way, ships, on the top of the mast of which a point with a wire will be attached, descending down to the deck, and then along one of the shrouds and sheathing into the water, will be protected from lightning.

The lightning rod was the result of Franklin's many experiments related to natural electricity.

In general, many of his discoveries and inventions are related to electricity. For example, Franklin introduced the now generally accepted designation of the electrically charged states "+" and "-"; established the identity of atmospheric and friction-generated electricity; put forward the idea of ​​an electric motor and demonstrated an "electric wheel" rotating under the influence of electrostatic forces; first used an electric spark to explode gunpowder; explained the principle of operation of the Leyden jar, establishing that the main role in it is played by a dielectric separating the conductive plates.

There were also inventions far from electricity. So, Franklin came up with glasses for vision correction and patented the design of the rocking chair.

13 Virtues of Franklin

Benjamin Franklin combined science, the work of an official and business with constant work on the moral perfection of himself. Even at the age of 20, he came up with a list of 13 virtues, the achievement of which ensures the moral growth of a person:

1. Temperance. Eat not to satiety, drink not to intoxication.

2. Silence. Say only what can benefit you or another; avoid empty talk.

3. Love for order. Let there be a place for each of your things; let there be a time for each of your affairs.

4. Decisiveness. Decide to do what you must; and what you decide, carry out steadily.

5. Thrift. Allow yourself only those expenses that will benefit others or yourself; don't waste anything.

6. Diligence. Don't waste time; always be busy with something useful; cancel all unnecessary things.

7. Sincerity. Do not resort to pernicious deceit: let your thoughts be innocent and just; and if you speak, then let the words be the same.

8. Justice. Never offend people by doing them harm or not doing good, as duty dictates.

9. Moderation. Avoid extremes; do not hold a grudge for the harm done to you, even if you think that it deserves it.

10. Cleanliness. Do not allow the slightest dirt either on yourself, or in clothes, or in the house.

11. Calm. Do not worry about trifles, because of small or inevitable incidents.

12. Chastity. Indulge in lust rarely, only for health or for the prolongation of the family; do not let it lead to dullness or weakness, or deprive you of peace of mind or cast a shadow on your good name or anyone else.

13. Meekness. Follow the example of Jesus and Socrates.

Franklin did not stop at developing a list of virtues. Their achievement was based on a 13-week plan, where a separate week was allotted for the struggle for each of the virtues. In a special notebook, Franklin mercilessly noted to himself all the mistakes he made on the path to achieving virtues. Concentration and exactingness towards oneself were an integral part of his life.

Radical politician

In 1754, the first convention of representatives of the colony was held in Albany, and Franklin was among those who initiated it, and then proposed a plan to unite them. From that moment on, politics became another sphere of his activity.

We have already said that Franklin's views towards Great Britain changed from the recognition of the colonies as part of the empire to the desire for complete independence. In terms of views on the internal structure of the state, Franklin was perhaps the most radical of all the founding fathers. He believed that all citizens of the country should be endowed with the right to vote, not limited by any property qualification, and strongly advocated the complete abolition of slavery.

Franklin expressed his view of democracy in a statement that turned into an aphorism: "Democracy is an agreement on rules between well-armed gentlemen."

From the late 1750s, Franklin acted as Pennsylvania's envoy to London, seeking during this period to achieve a peaceful expansion of the colonies' powers, but without success.

In 1775, Franklin was elected a delegate to the Second Continental Congress and, in that capacity, became one of the drafters of the US Declaration of Independence.

three signatures

In 1776, Benjamin Franklin, who by that time had great authority and fame in the scientific world, was appointed US envoy to France. He was given the task of achieving an alliance with Paris in the fight against Great Britain. In 1778, thanks to the efforts of Franklin, the American-French alliance was concluded.

Five years later, in 1783, Franklin signed the Treaty of Versailles on behalf of the United States, formally ending the war for the independence of the thirteen British colonies in North America from Great Britain.

His return to the now fully independent United States was a triumph. He was elected President of the Pennsylvania Legislature.

In 1787, Franklin became a member of the Constitutional Convention, which drafted the US Constitution.

As a result, Benjamin Franklin became the only person whose signature is on three of the most important documents in the history of the United States: the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Versailles, under which Great Britain recognized the independence of former colonies, and the US Constitution.

His scientific merits were also appreciated all over the world. In 1789, the Russian Academy of Sciences elected him an honorary member; Franklin became the first American to receive such an honor.

Benjamin Franklin died on April 17, 1790 in Philadelphia at the age of 84. In the city, whose population at that time was just over 30 thousand people, 20 thousand came to his funeral.

Franklin is called the spiritual leader of the new American nation that was emerging at the turn of the 18th-19th centuries. At the beginning of the 20th century, America's spiritual leader found a place on the $100 bill. It is difficult to say how a person who has striven for moral perfection all his life would have reacted to this. However, he would hardly argue with this, because he considered meekness one of the virtues.

And finally, I would like to recall another aphorism of Benjamin Franklin, a man who has achieved success in science, politics, and business: "Spend less than you earn - that's the whole philosopher's stone." It seems that this advice will be useful not only to Americans.

Benjamin was born on January 17, 1706 in a large family of a craftsman. For two years in his biography, Franklin studied at the school. There was not enough money for more training, so I received knowledge on my own.

After the founding of the printing house, he began to lead an active social life. Franklin was a founder of the first American public library (1731), a philosophical society (1743), and the University of Pennsylvania (1751). In addition, Benjamin Franklin is known as the greatest politician and diplomat.

He studied physics, mainly electrostatics, electricity, magnetism. Franklin proposed the idea of ​​creating an electric motor, a lightning rod, a rocking chair, and much more. Studied the nature of lightning. He wrote several works (for example, "Experiments and Observations on Electricity", "The Way to Abundance").

Franklin's biography, as a great patriot and fighter for US independence, is known for facilitating the signing of three important documents. These are the Declaration of Independence (1787), the Constitution and the Treaty of Versailles (1783).

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Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) - American public figure, politician, diplomat, writer, inventor, who made a great contribution to gaining independence from England. He was the only one among the founding fathers of the United States who put his signature under all three documents that underlie the creation of the state. Franklin became the first American to become a foreign member of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Franklin's portrait is featured on the $100 bill. For this reason, many people think that he was the President of the United States, but this is not the case.

Time is money.

Critics are our friends: they point out our mistakes to us.

In whatever situation people may be, they can always find comfort and inconvenience.

Force your own work; don't wait for her to force you.

It is better to do well than to speak well.

Benjamin Franklin was born on January 17, 1706 in Boston in a large family. He was the 15th child of his father, Josiah, who had come overseas from England to make soap and candles. The difficult financial situation did not allow parents to provide their children with a good education, but for the inquisitive mind of Benjamin, this did not become a serious obstacle. He independently mastered the school course, while working as an apprentice in a printing house. Childhood impressions received at work will instill a love for printing for a lifetime.

In his youth, the future politician began to be published in a newspaper published by his brother. But he wrote his articles under the pseudonym "Mrs. Silence Dougud", as he did not approve the publication. In 1728, Franklin created a small debating circle, the Leather Apron Club, which 20 years later became the American Philosophical Society. Many well-known scientists, including Russian ones, took part in its work.

In the 1730s, Franklin became a very popular personality, helped by the writing of Poor Richard's Almanac. This is one of the most important parts of Benjamin's literary heritage, where he presents a modal personality in which the national traits of Americans are guessed. The author focuses the reader's attention on the importance of individual success.

During these years, Franklin published his own newspaper, The Pennsylvania Gazette, and also created a volunteer fire brigade and opened the country's first public library. Everyone was served in it, and in order to facilitate the work of librarians, he came up with a wooden pole with a special grip at the end, which helped to remove books from the upper shelves.

Franklin oven

Along with active social and political activities, journalism, writing and diplomacy, Benjamin will forever be remembered as a talented inventor and scientist who made a significant contribution to the development of science.

One of his most famous creations is the Franklin Stove (“Pennsylvania Fireplace”). This economical heating device is designed for residential use. The reason for its creation was the low efficiency of English stoves common in the American colonies. They were originally intended for a milder climate - the chimney was led out from the outside of the house, which led to critically high heat losses.

The inventor made his stove from cast iron, which has good heat dissipation. She was in the central part of the room, and her chimney was an additional source of heat, as it was located inside the house. The introduced design changes allowed to reduce fuel consumption. As a result, the device, consuming 2/3 less firewood, gave twice as much heat as the English counterparts.

Combustion air was supplied to the furnace from the outside through a specially created channel (“cold chimney”), which made it possible to keep warm air in the room as much as possible. Subsequently, the first version of the stove, created in 1742, was finalized by D. Riternhaus, who equipped the product with corner panels and an L-shaped chimney.

In order to increase the sales of his stoves, Franklin wrote a long article in 1744 detailing their advantages and principle of operation. He received an offer to patent his invention, but Benjamin refused, so that everyone who wants could use the stove.

The study of natural electricity. The invention of the lightning rod

Until the middle of the 18th century, the electrical nature of lightning remained outside the scope of scientific research, since this phenomenon was associated with some natural causes. One of the first to doubt this was Franklin, who conducted the famous experiment with a kite.

In May 1752, together with his son, during a thunderstorm, he launched a kite, the basis of which was a wooden frame covered with silk. At its end was a small metal pin (conductor). The device was tied with a string connected at the ground to the key to the lock. It was used as a subject with pointed areas on which a visual corona discharge took place. During the experiment, Franklin planned to provoke a lightning strike into the rod, which should transfer part of the charge along the wet rope to a key near the ground. The lightning that struck the snake created a halo around the key, which was direct evidence of the electrical nature of the phenomenon.

Franklin's kite experiment. The metal lock key was designed to create an electrical discharge between it and the ground.

The experiment was very risky, but Franklin managed to stay safe and sound - a solid knowledge in the field of electricity helped. During the experiment, he was outside the window of his house, blocking himself from the affected area. The results of the study formed the basis for the invention of a lightning rod - one of the most common devices today. Franklin sent his reflections on this topic to British scientists, which caused only rejection on their part. The inventor was supported only in France, where the translator of his works T.-F. Delibes successfully installed the structure according to Benjamin's schemes.

Franklin himself placed a lightning rod on the roof of his Philadelphia home. It was a metal pointed rod 9 feet high, which was connected to the well with iron wire. It was run through the living room and connected to a bell that sounded in the event of an impact. Gradually, lightning rods began to be installed in many US homes.

Lightning rod 1856 - it uses a pointed spire proposed by Franklin. The photo clearly shows a crack that appeared as a result of a lightning strike.

Franklin put forward the idea of ​​an electric motor and showed the operation of an electrostatic wheel. The Franklin wheel is a device that rotates under the influence of electrostatic forces. It functions on the basis of the repulsive force that occurs around a charged conductor. In a strong field near its tip, polarization of molecules occurs, which are attracted to this area, which causes the effect of an electric wind.

Also, the scientist was the first to use an electric spark to explode a powder mass and managed to explain the principle of operation of a Leyden jar. The latter is the first capacitor developed by the Dutch inventor Pieter van Muschenbroek. Franklin established that the key role in it is played by the dielectric separating the conducting plates.

Inventions in the field of optics

Franklin's name is well known in the ophthalmological professional community for bifocals, which are still widely used in optometry today. Benjamin was inspired by the idea of ​​creating a novelty by the breakdown of his own glasses, which allowed him to conduct a series of experiments. The inventor himself suffered from presbyopia and farsightedness. Bifocal glasses are just shown to such patients or it is necessary to use two pairs at once, which is not always convenient.

Structurally, bifocal glasses are made of two parts - the lower one provides focus at a close distance, and the upper one allows you to look into the distance. They are used both for reading and for the purpose of performing work at close range.

glass harmonica

Musical instruments have been made from various materials since ancient times, but glass has almost never been taken into account. In 1757, Franklin arrived in the British capital on a diplomatic visit. A number of researchers claim that the idea of ​​​​the invention came to Benjamin after a concert by E. Delavel and the Austrian composer Gluck, who performed with great success throughout Europe with “musical cups” designed by a certain R. Pakrich.

Franklin decided to improve the device so that anyone could play it, not just specially trained people. His harmonica consisted of a series of glass hemispheres, which were strung on a special metal shaft. It rotated from the foot lever, while the lower part of the hemispheres was immersed in water. The performer put his fingers on different hemispheres, creating a melodic sound. The layout of the impromptu keys was similar to that of a classical grand piano. Franklin, along with his invention, gave several concerts in Europe. The success was fantastic, the audience accepted the instrument with a bang, and the harmonica in the next century will be an integral part of the symphony orchestra. A number of outstanding composers (Berlioz, Beethoven, Rubinstein, Tchaikovsky) wrote their opuses especially for "sounding glass".

In the video below you can hear how the glass harmonica sounds during the performance of a fragment from the Nutcracker “Dance of the Dragee Fairy” (P. I. Tchaikovsky).

Other inventions and proposals

Franklin owned a patent for the invention of the wheelchair. As was often the case with him, the invention happened quite by accident. One day, on his way home, he saw how the mother rocked the baby and wanted to return to childhood. Benjamin combined an ordinary chair with curved runners, which turned it into a very convenient device.

The American was a very busy man who was sorely short of time. In order not to be a slave to circumstances, he decided to manage time by inventing his own system. Its implementation made it possible to become much more effective than any average person. The main idea of ​​the Franklin model is the planning of activities aimed at achieving the set goal. To do this, it is divided into separate tasks - from short-term tactical to long-term strategic. The scientist suggested, when planning for the day, to differentiate cases on three grounds - primary, secondary and insignificant. Thus, priorities are correctly set and time is used as productively as possible.

Franklin owns a series of studies related to storm winds - he put forward a theory explaining their appearance. Franklin participated in the study of the Gulf Stream and gave the name to this warm current, contributing to its mapping on the physical map. It happened while working at the post office. An observant American noticed that mailing lists are delivered to New York much longer than to Newport. On his initiative, the sailors began to put the results on the map, indicating the trajectory of the warm current.

Benjamin came up with the idea of ​​daylight saving time and crop insurance. The prolific American was involved in the creation of the odometer, which measures the number of revolutions of a wheel and thus calculates the distance traveled.

Benjamin Franklin died April 17, 1790 in Philadelphia. About 20 thousand people attended the farewell ceremony for the outstanding compatriot, while only 33 thousand lived in the city at that time.

  • Franklin, who was actively involved in risky experiments with lightning, did get hit, but completely by accident and without much consequences.
  • Benjamin's boundless talent, his interest in many areas made it possible to say that there were several Franklins and they are all twins.
  • Benjamin is the author of one of the most famous aphorisms: "Time is money."
  • The psychological “Benjamin Franklin effect” is named after the legendary American. It lies in the fact that a person who has done good to another, with a high degree of probability, will help him again, rather than rely on his help.
  • Franklin introduced into wide circulation the designation of electrically charged states as - (minus) and + (plus).
  • Already at an advanced age, Franklin wrote a detailed autobiography in which he revealed some of the secrets of his success.
  • The American often talked about the possibility of "traveling in a barrel of Madeira" in the future, implicitly predicting the advent of cryonics.
  • By decision of the World Council, Franklin's name was included in the category of outstanding representatives of mankind.
  • Franklin is one of two US politicians (together with A. Hamilton) who were honored to be depicted on banknotes without ever holding the post of head of state.
  • Benjamin was at the forefront of the famous University of Pennsylvania, promoting an educational program that focused on the fundamental preparation of graduates for public service. Here, following the example of European universities, a system of multidisciplinary education was implemented.

Benjamin Franklin. Born January 17, 1706 - died April 17, 1790. American politician, diplomat, scientist, inventor, writer, journalist, publisher, freemason. One of the leaders of the American War of Independence.

Benjamin Franklin is the only one of the founding fathers who signed all three of the most important historical documents that underlie the formation of the United States of America as an independent state: the US Declaration of Independence, the US Constitution and the Versailles Peace Treaty of 1783 (Second Paris Peace Treaty), formally ended the war for the independence of the thirteen British colonies in North America from Great Britain.

One of the designers of the Great Seal of the United States (Great Seal). The first American to become a foreign member of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

The portrait of Benjamin Franklin has been on the $100 bill of the US Federal Reserve since 1914.


Benjamin Franklin was born January 17, 1706 in Boston. He was the 15th child in the family (17 children in total) of an emigrant from England, Josiah Franklin (1652-1745), an artisan engaged in the manufacture of soap and candles. He received his education on his own. Josiah wanted his son to go to school, but he only had enough money for two years of schooling. From the age of 12, Benjamin began working as an apprentice in the printing house of his brother James, and printing became his main specialty for many years.

In 1727 he founded his own printing press in Philadelphia. Published (1729-1748) "Pennsylvania Gazette", in 1732-1758 - the yearly "Poor Richard's Almanac".

In 1728, Benjamin Franklin founded the Philadelphia debating circle of artisans and merchants "Leather Apron Club" ("Junto"), which in 1743 turned into the American Philosophical Society, whose members from the 1770s to the 1860s were elected 24 Russian scientists, including T. I. von Klingsteth (1773), E. R. Dashkova (1789), P. S. Pallas (1791), F. P. Adelung (1818), I. F. Krusenstern (1824), V. J. Struve (1853).

He founded the first public library in America in 1731, the American Philosophical Society in 1743, and the Philadelphia Academy in 1751, which became the basis of the University of Pennsylvania. From 1737 to 1753, he served as postmaster of Pennsylvania, from 1753 to 1774 - the same position on the scale of all North American colonies.

In 1776 he was sent as ambassador to France in order to achieve an alliance with her against England, as well as a loan. He was elected a member of the academies of many countries, including the Russian Academy of Sciences (1789, the first American member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences).

He was a Freemason, and was a member of the greatest Masonic lodge, the Nine Sisters. He was an adherent of natural nutrition (specific nutrition, raw food diet).

Benjamin Franklin's political views were based on the concept of natural and inalienable human rights, to which he attributed life, liberty, and property. Franklin's views on the political structure of the North American colonies, however, changed over time. Until 1765, he viewed the colonies as part of the British Empire. Then he came to the idea of ​​a federal structure, based on the complete equality of all the colonies and the mother country under the rule of the king. Finally, when the contradictions between England and the colonies became insoluble, Franklin, convinced after the failure of his appeal in the British Parliament that there was no way to influence the policy of London with the help of petitions, advocated the complete separation of the colonies from the metropolis and the proclamation of political independence. Later, he opposed the strengthening of the role of the executive branch, in particular, against granting emergency powers to George Washington, for the establishment of universal suffrage, not limited by property qualifications, and was a resolute opponent of slavery.

In his philosophical views, Benjamin Franklin adjoined deism. He contrasted the idea of ​​“natural religion” with orthodox church dogma, in which the role of God was reduced to the act of creating the world. He formulated his own version of the theory of labor value.

As outlined in his Autobiography, Franklin developed and attempted to implement a plan to achieve moral perfection and eradicate bad habits, which was based on the development of skill in the 13 virtues he listed.

Franklin was the de facto spiritual leader of the new American nation in the second half of the 18th century and the first half of the 19th century.

Franklin died on April 17, 1790. About 20,000 people gathered for his funeral in Philadelphia, despite the fact that the entire population of the city that year was 33,000 people, including babies.

Inventions of Benjamin Franklin:

Introduced the now generally accepted designation of the electrically charged states "+" and "-";
established the identity of atmospheric and friction-generated electricity and provided proof of the electrical nature of lightning;
established that metal points connected to the ground remove electric charges from charged bodies even without contact with them and proposed in 1752 a draft lightning rod;
invented bifocal glasses (1784);
received a patent for the design of a rocking chair;
invented an economical small-sized stove for the home (1742 and 1770) (names: Franklin stove - Franklin stove, or Pennsylvania fireplace - Pennsylvania fireplace); This oven was, and still is, one of Franklin's most popular inventions and is still in use today in many parts of the world. It gives twice as much heat at a quarter of the wood consumption of a conventional fireplace. Despite the great success of this design, Franklin fundamentally never patented his invention, explaining this in his Autobiography: to do disinterestedly and magnanimously”;
put forward the idea of ​​an electric motor and demonstrated an "electric wheel" rotating under the influence of electrostatic forces;
first used an electric spark to explode gunpowder;
explained the principle of operation of the Leyden jar, establishing that the main role in it is played by a dielectric separating the conductive plates;
fundamentally improved the glass harmonica for which they began to compose

- (Benjamin Franklin) (January 17, 1705, Boston April 17, 1790, Philadelphia), American statesman, scientist, educator, participant in the War of Independence (see WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE IN NORTH AMERICA), one of the authors of the Declaration ... ... encyclopedic Dictionary

Franklin, Benjamin- Benjamin Franklin. FRANKLIN (Franklin) Benjamin (Benjamin) (1706-90), American educator, statesman, scientist, one of the authors of the US Declaration of Independence (1776) and the Constitution of 1787. Founded the University of Pennsylvania (1740) ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

- (Franklin, Benjamin) (1706–90) American politician and scientist. He was educated as a printer. Gained popularity with an unassuming philosophy expounded in 1732–67. in the Almanac of the Simpleton Richard (Poor Richard's Almanack). Unpretentious… … Political science. Vocabulary.

- (Benjamin) (1706-90) American educator, statesman, scientist, one of the authors of the US Declaration of Independence (1776) and the Constitution of 1787. Born into a family of a craftsman, worked in a printing house. Founded in Philadelphia the first in ... ... Historical dictionary

Franklin Benjamin- (Franklin, Benjamin) (1706 90), Amer. state and polit, activist, journalist and inventor. Genus. in Boston in an humble family, he studied typography. In 1723 he fled to Philadelphia. After visiting London, he began to publish the Pennsylvania newspaper (1730-66) ... The World History

- (Franklin, Benjamin) BENJAMIN FRANKLIN (1706 1790), American educator, statesman and scientist, was born in Boston (Massachusetts) on January 17, 1706. He studied at a local school until the age of 10, then worked in his father's candle workshop and ... ... Collier Encyclopedia

Benjamin Franklin Benjamin Franklin Benjamin Franklin Occupation: Scientist, journalist ... Wikipedia

Franklin (Franklin) Benjamin (Benjamin) (January 17, 1706, Boston, √ April 17, 1790, Philadelphia), American educator, statesman, scientist. Born into the family of a poor craftsman. From the age of 10 he worked first in his father's workshop, then in ... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

FRANKLIN Benjamin- FRANKLIN (Franklin) Benjamin (1706-1790), American writer, educator, publicist, public figure, scientist; one of the authors of the Declaration of Independence. In 1732-58 he published The Almanac of the Simpleton Richard, for whom he wrote articles ... ... Literary Encyclopedic Dictionary

Books

  • Way to Wealth. Autobiography, Franklin Benjamin. This book eliminates a monstrous historical injustice: for the first time it presents to the domestic reader the heritage of one of the most remarkable minds of mankind, a state and ...


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