Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin was a man of many things; he was a husband, father, scientist, politician, writer, inventor, and a self- improver, just to name a few. When reading Franklin's autobiography there are many questions to be answered. Was Franklin's life that of self-improvement? Was he motivated? Was He successful, and was he truly desiring to help others or just a self-promoter? To answer these questions you must first know where he came from, and where he has been.

Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston on January 6, 1706. He was one of seventeen children. Franklin had always showed in interest in reading and writing, which wasn't very common for his time. When he was ten he left school, and two years later began working as an apprentice for his brother in a print shop. After a short while he left due to his brother and his arguing. At the age of sixteen he ran off to Philadelphia. In Philadelphia, Franklin begins working for a printer named Keimer. He later would open his own printing shop where he published the Pennsylvania gazette. In 1732 he started the Poor Richards Almanac, which made him very popular. Later he printed Father Abraham's sermon, which is regarded as the most famous piece of literature produced in colonial America. Later he would after waiting some years would found the University of Pennsylvania, which he allowed an American philosophical society to share their scientific studies with others. In 1742 he invented the Franklin stove. In 1748 he retired from the printing business and began to conduct scientific experiments in lightning. In 1753, he was awarded honorary degrees from Harvard and Yale, and he became Postmaster General of America. In 1757 he was sent to England to protest against the government against the colonies. He remained there for five years. In 1764 he was dispatched again and this time to petition the king to resume the government from the proprietors. In 1767 he was honored in France for his actions. In 1777 he was dispatched to France as a commissioner for the United States, he stayed until 1785.

There are many ways in which Franklin was a self-improver. He never gave up. He started out having nothing and worked for everything he had. He made a very strong impact with his autobiography in many ways, such as that of self-help and inspiration that to never stop if you believe in what you want to do and what you can do, then anything is possible. When Franklin left the apprentice job working for his brother he didn't just stop, he left and started his own printing shop,