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BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

Autobiography

Benjamin Franklin, a great and typical American, and one of
the most influential founders of the young republic, was born
at Boston, Mass., on January 17, 1706. The story of his first
fifty years is related in the vigorous and inspiring
"Autobiography," published in 1817. But the book does not
carry the story further than the year 1758, which was just the
time when he took a foremost place in world-politics, as
official representative of the New World in the Old World. He
came in that year to England, where he remained five years as
agent of the colony of Pennsylvania. Again in London, as agent
for several colonies, from 1764 to 1775, Franklin fought for
their right not to be taxed by the home country without having
a voice in matters which concerned themselves; and from 1776
to 1785 he represented his country in Paris, obtaining the
assistance of the French government in the War of
Independence. On his return to America in 1785 Franklin was
chosen President of the State of Pennsylvania. He died on
April 17, 1790. Franklin's correspondence, during these
important years in Europe, as well as the letters of the last
five years of his life, have been ably edited by John Bigelow,
and form, in some sort, a continuation of the "Autobiography,"
published in 1874. The "Autobiography" is published in a
number of inexpensive forms.

_I.--Early Education_

Our family had lived in the village of Ecton, Northamptonshire, for 300
years, the eldest son being always bred to the smith's business. I was
the youngest son of the youngest son for five generations back. My
father married young, and carried his wife and three children to New
England, about 1682, in order that they might there enjoy their
Non-conformist religion with freedom. He married a second time, and had
in all seventeen children.

I had but little schooling, being taken home at ten years to help my
father's business of tallow-chandler. I disliked the trade, and desired
to go to sea; living near the water in our home at Boston, I learned to
swim well, and to manage boats. From a child I was fond of reading, and
laid out all my little money on books, such as Bunyan's works, which I
sold to get Burton's "Historical Collections"; and in my father's little
library t