Benjamin Franklin

Born in Boston in 1706, he left formal schooling early and trained as a printer before building a successful career in Philadelphia. He became widely known through his publishing, especially Poor Richard’s Almanack, which mixed humor, plain advice, and memorable sayings.

Franklin’s interests stretched far beyond writing. He carried out influential experiments with electricity, helped found major civic institutions in Philadelphia, and earned an international reputation for his curiosity and practicality. His clear, conversational style and habit of turning big ideas into everyday lessons made him one of the most readable voices of the eighteenth century.

He also played a major role in public life during the American Revolution and the founding of the United States. As a diplomat in France and a statesman at home, he helped shape the new nation while continuing to write letters, essays, and autobiography that kept his voice alive long after his death in 1790.