Saturday, August 1, 2009

Remember Independance...Ben Franklin

These days everyone is thinking about the roots of our country. I saw this video on YouTube called Remember Independance...it's very thoughtful and could be a hit. Take the time to listen to ROLYO

After listening, I became curious about our forefathers so I found USHistory.org Declaration of Independance Signers.

Interesting that the youngest was a mere 26 with the oldest 70.

There are very brief biographies of each...some were not formally educated others were extremely privileged...they all shared a passion for this country.

I'm copying the one of Benjamin Franklin..I'd forgotten what an interesting outstanding man he became from very humble beginnings..I think you will enjoy refreshing your memory.
Benjamin Franklin
1706-1790
Representing Pennsylvania at the Continental Congress
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Born: January 17, 1706
Birthplace: Boston, Ma.
Education: Self-taught, apprenticed as a printer. Honorary Doctor of Laws, Universities of Edinburgh and Oxford.
Work: Printer, Publisher, Scientist. Clerk of the Pennsylvania Assembly, 1736; Founded the Library Company of Philadelphia, 1731; Postmaster of Philadelphia, 1737-1753; Member of Pennsylvania Assembly, 1751-1764; Deputy Postmaster general of the British colonies in America, 1753; Founded Academy of Sciences of Philadelphia, 1753; Agent to Europe for Pennsylvania, 1757-1762, for Pennsylvania, Georgia, New Jersey, Massachusetts, 1764-1775; Elected to Continental Congress, 1775; Testified before Parliament concerning the Stamp Act, 1776; Postmaster General of the united colonies, 1775; Commissioner to the French Court, 1776; Minister plenipotentiary to the French Court, 1779; Negotiator in and Member of the Treaties with Gr.-Britain, 1781-1783; Member of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, President of Pennsylvania Society for the Abolition of Slavery, 1785; Senior member of the Constitutional Convention, 1787.
Died: April 17, 1790
Benjamin Franklin, born in Boston, Massachusetts, on January 17, 1706, may by his life alone be the most profound statement of what an American strives to be.

With no formal education beyond the age of 10 years, Franklin was celebrated throughout Europe, welcomed in any Royal Court, sought out by every prestigious society. Indeed, when the reputations of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson had yet to be sorted out, Franklin was worshipped wherever his name was known.

He attended grammar school at age eight, but was put to work at ten. He apprenticed as a printer to his brother James, who printed the New England Courant, at age twelve, and published his first article there, anonymously, in 1721. Young Benjamin was an avid reader, inquisitive and skeptical. Through his satirical articles, he poked fun at the people of Boston and soon wore out his welcome, both with his brother and with the city.

He ran away to New York and then on to Philadelphia at the age of 16, looking for work as a printer. He managed a commission to Europe for the purpose of buying supplies to establish a new printing house in Philadelphia, but found himself abandoned when he stepped off ship.

Through hard work and frugality he bought his fare back to Philadelphia in 1732 and set up shop as a printer. He was appointed clerk of the Pennsylvania Assembly in 1736, and as Postmaster the following year. In 1741 he began publishing Poor Richard's Almanac, a very popular and influential magazine. He was elected to the Pennsylvania Assembly in 1751 and served as an agent for Pennsylvania (and ultimately for three other colonies) to England, France, and several other European powers. He was elected to the Continental Congress in 1775, where he played a crucial role in the rebellion against Gr. Britain, including service to Jefferson in editing the Declaration of Independence.

Franklin, who was by this time independently wealthy and retired from publishing, continued to serve an important role in government both local and national. He was the United States first Postmaster General, Minister to the French Court, Treaty agent and signer to the peace with Gr. Britain, Celebrated Member of the Constitutional convention (See Work, above). Benjamin Franklin: Businessman, Writer, Publisher, Scientist, Diplomat, Legislator, and Social activist, was one of the earliest and strongest advocates for the abolition of Slavery, and for the protection of the rights of American aboriginal peoples. He died on the 17th of April in 1790. On that day he was still one of the most celebrated characters in America. So should he always be.

Remember Poor Richards Almanack? First published by Benjamin Franklin in 1732, Poor Richard's Almanack was a guide to both weather forecasts and wise maxims. Franklin used the pseudonym Richard Saunders in writing the text, which soon became an annual publication up until 1757. Response to the almanac was tremendous, and it sold as many as 10,000 issues a year.

Franklin wrote Poor Richard's Almanack as a service to the American people, hoping to educate them and entice their intellectual appetities. Since it was extremely common for the almanac to be the only publication a person ever purchased, the author felt indebted to write as much as he possibly could.

As Richard Saunders, Franklin was given both the freedom to express his thoughts and the freedom to do so with dramatic license. Consequently, he continued to emphasize the two qualities he found most essential to success: industry and frugality.

We need to cherish and protect all the freedoms that we have been given.

As Aesthetics48 says, this is a shameless plug...I have listed at a low fixed price a collectible ashtray JOHN TRUMBULL DECLARATION OF INDEPENDANCE Ashtray
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Declaration of Independance, founding fathers, freedoms, you tube, Welcome Home Sale, Online Auction, shopping, rolyo

5 comments:

Eileen Williams said...

Thank you, Super Granny, for that fascinating review of the remarkable life of Ben Franklin. Did you get a chance to see the HBO series, "John Adams?" That really provided a wonderful portrayal of this amazing man--not to mention a number of other founding fathers. With your love of American history, I bet you'd thoroughly enjoy it.

Anonymous said...

Excellent presentation for a very nice product for sale. You kept my interest all of the way. I've mentioned before that I learn something new every day. Thank you, Super Teach.
Pat

Supergranny said...

Eileen, thanks for the tip, I'm gonna get my hands on a copy!!

Supergranny said...

Pat, what a sweet trooper you are. Some days I have a hard time learning something new...some days it just doesn't happen!!

Aesthetics48 said...

What a neat collectible! And the BF history was a plus. :)