An Outline Of Benjamin Franklin's Early Life

Benjamin Franklin

By: Nathaniel Priedeman

Early Life

Benjamin Franklin was born January 17, 1706 in Boston, Massachusetts to his father Josiah Franklin and his mother Abiah Folger. Benjamin's father was a soap and candle maker. Benjamin was the 15th child and the youngest son. Ben learned to read at an early age age and even with his success at Boston Latin School in which Ben attended, he stopped his schooling at age 10 to work full time at his father's soap and candle shop. Working at his father's shop dipping wax and cutting wicks did not reach Benjamins level of imagination. Ben's father discouraged ben not to go to sea just like one of his older brothers did, instead Ben's father apprenticed young ben who was only 12 years old to his older brother James at his print shop. Despite Benjamin's older brother James who mistreated ben and frequently

“When James refused to publish any of his brother’s writing, 16-year-old Ben adopted the pseudonym Mrs. Silence Dogood, and “her” 14 imaginative and witty letters delighted readers of his brother’s newspaper, The New England Courant.” His brother James quickly grew very angry. Benjamin illegally left boston in 1723 and escaped to new york before settling in philadelphia in which will later become ben's home for the rest of his life yet to come. In 1724 young Benjamin left for london. One thing I found really interesting about Benjamin Franklin was is, when he was in london is that, Benjamin Franklin who was a self taught swimmer crafted his own wooden flippers. Ben performed long- distance swims on the Thames-River. For this in 1968 Benjamin was inducted as an