Overview
Benjamin Franklin was a key figure in the American Revolution and a driving force behind the birth of the United States. Born in Boston in 1706, he was a printer, author, scientist, inventor, statesman, and diplomat and played a key role in the founding of the United States. As a young man, he worked as a printer in Philadelphia, where he founded the first public library, the first volunteer fire department, and the Pennsylvania Gazette. He also published Poor Richard’s Almanack, a popular annual publication that contained proverbs and aphorisms that are still remembered today, such as “Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.”
Franklin’s contributions to the American Revolution were numerous. He played a crucial role in securing support from France during the war, serving as an ambassador to France from 1776 to 1785. He also helped to draft the Declaration of Independence, signed the Treaty of Paris that ended the war, and was one of the framers of the U.S. Constitution. In addition, he was a vocal advocate for American independence and a prolific writer, producing political essays, scientific treatises, and personal correspondence that continue to influence American culture and politics today.
Primary Sources
Franklin, Benjamin, and Benjamin Franklin. The Autobiography and Other Writings. New York: Everyman’s Library, Alfred A. Knopf, 2015.
Secondary Sources
Epstein, Daniel Mark. The Loyal Son: The War in Ben Franklin’s House. First edition. New York: Ballantine Books, 2017.
Isaacson, Walter. Benjamin Franklin: An American Life. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2003.
Johansen, Bruce E. Forgotten Founders: Benjamin Franklin, the Iroquois, and the Rationale for the American Revolution. Ipswich, Mass: Gambit, 1982.
Morgan, Edmund S. Benjamin Franklin. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2002.
Stuart, Nancy Rubin. Poor Richard’s Women: Deborah Read Franklin and the Other Women behind the Founding Father. Boston: Beacon Press, 2022.
Wood, Gordon S. The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin. New York: Penguin Press, 2004.
Articles
Procknow, Eugene. “Benjamin Franklin’s Failed Diplomatic Mission.” In Journal of the American Revolution – Annual Volume 2016, edited by Todd Andrlik. Yardley, PA: Westholme Publishing, 2016.
Web Sites
Ben Franklin’s World – A podcast about Early America by Liz Covart. Episodes range beyond Ben Franklin but is a good starting place for those interested in Franklin’s life and contributions.
Site of Benjamin Franklin’s Printing and publishing Businesses
Now courtyard and museum
Researching the American Revolution 