Ben’s Big Life

Have you ever imagined what the world would be like without electricity, just oil lamps to illuminate your house? Or would you be able to give up your TV, your video games, or your computer? If you were a diver, how would you be able to propel yourself farther and faster without cramping your legs? For some people, how would you be able to see properly without your trusted bifocals? In our generation, life without these things would be a complete nightmare. However before Benjamin Franklin’s day, this was not a nightmare, but a way of life.

On January 17, 1706 in the town of Boston, a child was

born; not just any child, but one whose destiny is alter the way of life forever. This child’s name, which is known to many people, was Benjamin Franklin. Being the tenth son and the fifteenth child out of seventeen children, Benjamin probably didn’t get a lot of attentions from his soap maker father, Josiah, or his mother, Abiah. All his older siblings started their apprenticeships all at different times so he stayed at home until the age of twelve.

In his youth, sometime around 1717, Benjamin Franklin invented swimming fins, because he loved to swim and had great abilities of the sport. Benjamin Franklin, at the age of twelve became a cutlery apprentice. Unfortunately that didn’t turn out as well as expected, so Benjamin decided that he would be his step-brother’s apprentice as a printer. His step-brother, who’s name was James, made him set the type which was a monotonous, tedious, and boring job. However James let Benjamin design pamphlets, but then Benjamin would be set outside to sell them.

In 1721, when Benjamin Franklin was fifteen, James started a newspaper called The New England Courant. Since he was only and apprentice, his step-brother would never let him write in the paper. Because Benjamin really wanted to write in the paper, he wrote letters to the newspaper as a person named Silence Dogood. Benjamin’s plan worked, and his letters were published. After the sixteenth letter, Benjamin Franklin decided to tell his brother that he was Silence Dogood.

In 1730, Benjamin Franklin decided to buy the Pennsylvania Gazette. He not only printed and published the paper, but he wrote in the paper under false names to keep his identity hidden. Thirteen years later Benjamin decided to write and publish an almanac, known to many people, young and the old called Poor Richard’s Almanack. Benjamin Franklin was writing this almanac as Richard Saunders, a poor man who cared for his wife and himself.

In 1736, Benjamin started the Philadelphia Union Fire Company, which was a fire fighting group. By 1752 Benjamin started the Philadelphia Contribution Insurance Against Loss by Fire, which was an insurance company for people, whose house had perished from a raging fire. This was a big step that changed the future.

Ben invented a stove for heating homes called the Franklin stove. This was a stove that burned the fuel more efficiently and reduced the amount of smoke made by burning fuel.

Eventually, Benjamin retired from work and decided to work on science and experiments; he wanted to invent. In his retirement he make some things we use today such as bifocals, which were made in 1784. He made many little things that are much simpler that what they were then such as a three handed clock that showed seconds, minutes, and hours. Benjamin Franklin loved that sound of a wet finger on glass, so he invented the glass armonica. 1750 was the year that he made that rod of steel called the lightning rod. This rod was to protect the house from any damage during an electrical storm. Benjamin also made another invention that has to do with electricity. This well known experiment was called the kite experiment. Benjamin Franklin used wet twine, a steel key, and silk ribbon to discover the secret of electricity and what conducts it.

Benjamin Franklin unfortunately died at the age of eighty-four on April 17, 1790. About 20,000 people attended his funeral. He was greatly loved by all. Benjamin Franklin, the harmonious human multitude, had created a large impact on the way of life in the modern world.

You see, one person can change the world and make a difference. The modern world of today would have been considerably changed if Benjamin had not existed. Every single one of us could make a difference, like Benjamin Franklin, if we tried and we may just succeed, and forever change the way of living.

Michelle Chan