See what "Franklin, Benjamin" is in other dictionaries. Benjamin Franklin - politician, diplomat, scientist, inventor, journalist, publisher, Freemason Benjamin Franklin what did he do

- (Benjamin Franklin) (January 17, 1705, Boston April 17, 1790, Philadelphia), American statesman, scientist, educator, participant in the War of Independence (see WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE IN NORTH AMERICA), one of the authors of the Declaration ... ... encyclopedic Dictionary

Franklin, Benjamin- Benjamin Franklin. FRANKLIN (Franklin) Benjamin (Benjamin) (1706-90), American educator, statesman, scientist, one of the authors of the US Declaration of Independence (1776) and the Constitution of 1787. Founded the University of Pennsylvania (1740) ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

- (Franklin, Benjamin) (1706–90) American politician and scientist. He was educated as a printer. Gained popularity with an unassuming philosophy expounded in 1732–67. in the Almanac of the Simpleton Richard (Poor Richard's Almanack). Unpretentious… … Political science. Dictionary.

- (Benjamin) (1706-90) American educator, statesman, scientist, one of the authors of the US Declaration of Independence (1776) and the Constitution of 1787. Born into a family of a craftsman, worked in a printing house. Founded in Philadelphia the first in ... ... Historical dictionary

Franklin Benjamin- (Franklin, Benjamin) (1706 90), Amer. state and polit, activist, journalist and inventor. Genus. in Boston in an humble family, he studied typography. In 1723 he fled to Philadelphia. After visiting London, he began to publish the Pennsylvania newspaper (1730-66) ... The World History

- (Franklin, Benjamin) BENJAMIN FRANKLIN (1706 1790), American educator, statesman and scientist, was born in Boston (Massachusetts) on January 17, 1706. He studied at a local school until the age of 10, then worked in his father's candle workshop and ... ... Collier Encyclopedia

Benjamin Franklin Benjamin Franklin Benjamin Franklin Occupation: Scientist, journalist ... Wikipedia

Franklin (Franklin) Benjamin (Benjamin) (January 17, 1706, Boston, √ April 17, 1790, Philadelphia), American educator, statesman, scientist. Born into the family of a poor craftsman. From the age of 10 he worked first in his father's workshop, then in ... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

FRANKLIN Benjamin- FRANKLIN (Franklin) Benjamin (1706-1790), American writer, educator, publicist, public figure, scientist; one of the authors of the Declaration of Independence. In 1732-58 he published The Almanac of the Simpleton Richard, for whom he wrote articles ... ... Literary Encyclopedic Dictionary

Books

• Way to Wealth. Autobiography, Franklin Benjamin. This book eliminates a monstrous historical injustice: for the first time it presents to the domestic reader the heritage of one of the most remarkable minds of mankind, a state and ...

Benjamin Franklin is an American diplomat, politician, inventor, and writer. A Freemason and one of the leaders of the Revolutionary War, his signature sealed three of the most important documents that underpinned the formation of the United States. Franklin's portrait has been on the hundred dollar bill since 1914.

Few people know that such a simple and pleasant piece of home decor as a rocking chair was patented by none other than Benjamin Franklin.

Indeed, it seems unbelievable that a well-known scientist and politician would do such a thing. But, nevertheless, it is so, because he was a diversified personality. Like many scientists, Franklin was interested in the nature of electricity, especially since at that time it was a completely mysterious field of science.

Studying the nature of electricity, Franklin made sensational discoveries, and also invented devices that are relevant in our time. It is thanks to this scientist that we now use the symbols "+" and "-" for electrically charged particles. As a result of many studies, Franklin established that lightning is electrical in nature and proposed the design of a lightning rod. He was the first to use an electric spark to ignite gunpowder.

This is only a small part of his inventions related to electricity. But as a scientist, Franklin had very broad horizons. With the help of his observations and measurements, the Gulf Stream was revealed. Actually, the name of the current was also given by Benjamin Franklin.

The craving for knowledge of the future scientist was great from childhood. A boy was born in Boston (Massachusetts) in 1706. He was the fifteenth child in a large family, where, of course, there were problems with money.

Benjamin's father really wanted his son to get a good education, but there was a catastrophic lack of funds to pay for his studies. Therefore, the boy from childhood began to work as an apprentice in a printing house with his older brother. This occupation brought him little money, but he thoroughly studied the typographic business. Thanks to the experience gained, in 1727 in Philadelphia, Benjamin opened his own printing house, where he published the Pennsylvania Gazette and Poor Richard's Almanac. All this time he did not stop working on his education and studied European languages.

By acquiring new knowledge, often based on his own experience, Franklin became an eminent scientist. His merits were appreciated: Benjamin was elected an honorary member of many academies. It is also interesting that he became the first foreign honorary member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences. In addition, Franklin was a founder of the American Philosophical Society and the Philadelphia Academy. In addition to such important and indisputable merits, there were also less significant, but very memorable ones.

It was Benjamin Franklin who proposed daylight saving time and was the author of many aphorisms that are well known to this day. The most popular of them are: "Time is money" and "Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today."

Undoubtedly, Franklin's merits as a scientist and inventor are great, but he showed himself no less clearly as a politician and diplomat. Benjamin took an active part in diplomatic negotiations between the US, Britain and France. It was with his assistance that the Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1783. In accordance with this document, Great Britain recognized the United States of America as an independent state.

Franklin also signed the US Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. He went down in history as the only politician who left his signatures on all three documents. They were the legal basis on which all the laws of the young independent state were then based. Franklin carried through his life the conviction that a person has the right to life, liberty and property. Not surprisingly, he strongly opposed slavery.

Considering all the merits of Benjamin Franklin, his name was included in the list of the most prominent representatives of Humanity by decision of the World Peace Council. At home, the memory of him was immortalized in another way. The portrait of this outstanding person is on a denomination of one hundred dollars.

Benjamin Franklin died in 1790 at the age of 86. According to some reports, about twenty thousand people gathered for the funeral, which took place in Philadelphia. They came to see off a great scientist and an outstanding politician on his last journey.

Biography, books, quotes and aphorisms.

A American politician, diplomat, polymath, inventor, writer, journalist, publisher, freemason. One of the leaders of the American War of Independence. Benjamin Franklin is the only one of the Founding Fathers who signed all three of the most important historical documents that underlie the formation of the United States of America as an independent state: US Declaration of Independence, The US Constitution and the Treaty of Versailles of 1783 , which formally ended the war for the independence of the thirteen British colonies in North America from Great Britain. Wikipedia

Born on January 17, 1706, he became the 15th child in the family (two more were born after him). His father, an English immigrant, worked as a craftsman, the family lived in Boston. The father wanted to give Benjamin an education, but the funds were sufficient for only two years of schooling. At the age of 12, he began working with his brother in a printing house as an apprentice, although from the age of 10 he helped his father in the workshop. Printing would be his main occupation for many years.

In 1723, Franklin was in Philadelphia, and the governor of the colony sent him to London; he spent a year and a half in the British capital. Upon his return to Philadelphia, in 1727 he created his own printing house. The following year, Franklin organized the Philadelphia Debating Circle of Artisans and Merchants, which in 1743 would become the American Philosophical Society.

During the years 1729-1748. Franklin was the publisher of the Pennsylvania Gazette, from 1732 to 1758. under his leadership, "Poor Richard's Almanac" was published, in which one could find a lot of teachings, useful recommendations, sayings, aphorisms, etc. During the years 1737-1753. worked as a postmaster in Pennsylvania, and later until 1774 - postmaster of the North American colonies. It was around this time that he entered politics. In 1754, the first convention of representatives of the colony was held in Albany, and Franklin was among those who initiated it, and then proposed a plan for their unification.

Franklin was the de facto spiritual leader of the new American nation in the second half of the 18th century and the first half of the 19th century.

Franklin died on April 17, 1790. About 20,000 people gathered for his funeral in Philadelphia, despite the fact that the entire population of the city that year was 33,000 people, including babies.

He was a Freemason and was a member of the greatest Masonic lodge, the Nine Sisters.

To the books of Benjamin Franklin

A autobiography

"A autobiography" is one of the most famous texts of the thinker. It was begun in 1771 and published in 1791. The first Russian translation appeared already in 1799. It was made by Andrey Turgenev. The Franklin text tells only about the first half of the thinker's life and ends in 1757. It is interesting primarily because the thinker describes the stages of his formation and development as a person.

Time is money

Dale Carnegie said, "If you want excellent advice on how to deal with people, manage yourself, and improve your personal qualities, read Benjamin Franklin's autobiography, one of life's most fascinating stories."

Way to Wealth. Autobiography

This book eliminates a monstrous historical injustice: for the first time it presents to the domestic reader the heritage of one of the most remarkable minds of mankind - Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790).

Quotes from Benjamin Franklin

Critics are our friends: they point out our mistakes to us.

Teach your children to be silent. They will learn to speak on their own.

One "today" is worth two "tomorrows".

Talk less. Do more. Words will show your mind, but actions will show your significance.

If you want to know the shortcomings of a girl, praise her in front of her friends.

Who has deceived you so often as you yourself?

Those who are absent are always to blame.

Investments in knowledge always give the highest return.

If you do what you shouldn't, endure what you don't like.

Laziness is like rust: it corrodes faster than frequent use wears out.

It is easier to suppress the first desire in yourself than to satisfy all subsequent ones.

Whoever buys the excess ends up selling what is needed.

What cannot be corrected should not be lamented.

If you pour the contents of your wallet into your head, no one will take it away from you.

Many people think they are buying pleasure. In fact, they are selling themselves to him.

Since you are not sure even for one minute, do not waste even one hour.

Beware also of small wastes, for a small leak can sink a large ship.

If you want to get rid of a guest who bothers you with his visits, lend him money.

Before consulting a whim, consult your wallet.

For happiness, one must either reduce desires or increase means.

Democracy is when two wolves and a lamb vote on the lunch menu. Freedom is when a well-armed lamb contests the result of such a vote.

Beauty without kindness dies unclaimed.

Benjamin Franklin - books, quotes, biography - interesting to know updated: October 13, 2017 by: website

English Benjamin Franklin

American politician, diplomat, polymath, inventor, writer, journalist, publisher, freemason

short biography

US statesman and politician, educator, diplomat, scientist, publisher, journalist, one of the founding fathers of the United States, and he became the only one whose signature was under all three historical documents directly related to the formation of a sovereign state (Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Treaty of Versailles 1783). Franklin was the first citizen of his country to become a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Benjamin, born on January 17, 1706, became the 15th child in the family (two more were born after him). His father, an English immigrant, worked as a craftsman, the family lived in Boston. The father wanted to give Benjamin an education, but the funds were sufficient for only two years of schooling. At the age of 12, he began working with his brother in a printing house as an apprentice, although from the age of 10 he helped his father in the workshop. Printing would be his main occupation for many years.

In 1723, Franklin was in Philadelphia, and the governor of the colony sent him to London; he spent a year and a half in the British capital. Upon his return to Philadelphia, in 1727 he created his own printing house. The following year, Franklin organized the Philadelphia Debating Circle of Artisans and Merchants, which in 1743 would become the American Philosophical Society.

During the years 1729-1748. Franklin was the publisher of the Pennsylvania Gazette, from 1732 to 1758. under his leadership, "Poor Richard's Almanac" was published, in which one could find a lot of teachings, useful recommendations, sayings, aphorisms, etc. During the years 1737-1753. worked as a postmaster in Pennsylvania, and later until 1774 - as a postmaster of the North American colonies. It was around this time that he entered politics. In 1754, the first convention of representatives of the colony was held in Albany, and Franklin was among those who initiated it, and then proposed a plan for their unification.

Franklin's authority, along with his material well-being, rapidly strengthened. In 1757, he became the envoy of Pennsylvania in London, where he stayed until 1775 (with the exception of the period 1762-1765). Upon his return to the United States in 1775, literally the next day he was elected a delegate to the II Continental Congress, was among the persons who prepared the Declaration of Independence in 1776. From 1776 to 1785. Benjamin Franklin was the US envoy in Paris. The American-French treaty of alliance (1778) and the Treaty of Versailles (1783) were signed, thanks in part to him. The return to America took place in 1785, and at the same time Franklin became President of the Legislative Assembly of the State of Pennsylvania. In 1787, as a member of the Constitutional Convention, he was one of the active participants in the preparation and organization of the congress that adopted the constitution.

Franklin left memories of himself as an extremely versatile person; many interesting facts can be found in his biography. So, he was a member of one of the largest Masonic lodges, an outstanding scientist who made a certain contribution to the development of several sciences at once. The main area of ​​his scientific interests was physics, and the most significant were the works on electricity. In particular, he proved that lightning has an electrical nature, invented the so-called. a Franklin oven, bulbs for street lamps, a lightning rod, etc. In 1789, the Russian Academy of Sciences elected him an honorary member; the same status was assigned to it by scientific institutions and communities of other countries. While in Philadelphia, on April 14, 1790, Franklin died. His funeral took place on April 17 with an unprecedented scale, with a huge gathering of people.

Biography from Wikipedia

The only one of the Founding Fathers who sealed with his signature all three of the most important historical documents that underlie the formation of the United States of America as an independent state: the US Declaration of Independence, the US Constitution and the Versailles Peace Treaty of 1783 (Second Paris Peace Treaty), formally ending the War of Independence thirteen British colonies in North America from Great Britain.

One of the designers of the Great Seal of the United States. The first American to become a foreign member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences (since 1917 - the Russian Academy of Sciences).

The portrait of Benjamin Franklin has been featured on the $100 bill of the US Federal Reserve since 1914.

Contrary to popular misconception, Franklin was never President of the United States.

Benjamin Franklin was born on January 17, 1706, on Milk Street in Boston, the 15th of 17 children in the family of an emigrant from England, Josiah Franklin (1657-1745), an artisan who made soap and candles. He received his education on his own. Josiah wanted his son to go to school, but he only had enough money for two years of schooling. From the age of 12, Benjamin began working as an apprentice in the printing house of his brother James, and printing became his main specialty for many years.

In 1727 he founded his own printing press in Philadelphia. From 1729 to 1748 he published The Pennsylvania Gazette, and from 1732 to 1758 the yearly Poor Richard's Almanac.

In 1728, Benjamin Franklin founded the Philadelphia debating circle of artisans and merchants, the Leather Apron Club (Junto), which became the American Philosophical Society in 1743.

In 1731 he founded the first public library in America, in 1751 the Philadelphia Academy, which became the basis of the University of Pennsylvania. From 1737 to 1753 he served as postmaster of Pennsylvania, from 1753 to 1774 - the same position on the scale of all North American colonies.

In 1776 he was sent as ambassador to France in order to achieve an alliance with her against England, as well as a loan. He was elected a member of the academies of many countries, including the Russian Academy of Sciences (1789, the first American member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences).

Franklin was a Freemason and was a member of the greatest Masonic lodge, the Nine Sisters.

Franklin was the de facto spiritual leader of the new American nation in the second half of the 18th century and the first half of the 19th century.

Franklin died on April 17, 1790. About 20,000 people gathered for his funeral in Philadelphia, despite the fact that the entire population of the city that year was 33,000 people, including babies.

An epitaph is engraved on his tombstone: “He tore out the lightning from the sky, and then the scepters from the tyrants”

Autobiography

The autobiography of Benjamin Franklin is traditionally referred to as an unfinished record of his own life, written between 1771 and 1790. However, Franklin himself probably considered this work to be his memoir. The publication of the document occurred after the death of the author.

views

Benjamin Franklin's political views were based on the concept of natural and inalienable human rights, to which he attributed life, liberty, and property. Franklin's views on the political structure of the North American colonies, however, changed over time. Until 1765, he viewed the colonies as part of the British Empire. Then he came to the idea of ​​a federal structure, based on the complete equality of all the colonies and the mother country under the rule of the king. Finally, when the contradictions between England and the colonies became insoluble, Franklin, convinced after the failure of his appeal in the British Parliament that there was no way to influence the policy of London with the help of petitions, advocated the complete separation of the colonies from the metropolis and the proclamation of political independence. Later, he opposed the strengthening of the role of the executive branch, in particular, against granting emergency powers to George Washington, for the establishment of universal suffrage, not limited by property qualifications, and was a resolute opponent of slavery.

In his philosophical views, Benjamin Franklin adjoined deism. He contrasted the idea of ​​“natural religion” with orthodox church dogma, in which the role of God was reduced to the act of creating the world. He formulated his own version of the theory of labor value.

As outlined in his Autobiography, Franklin developed and attempted to implement a plan to achieve moral perfection and eradicate bad habits, which was based on the development of skill in the 13 virtues he listed.

Ratings

From a letter from Robespierre addressed to B. Franklin: "You are the most famous scientist in the world ...".

Dale Carnegie: "If you want excellent advice on how to deal with people, manage yourself and improve your personal qualities, read the autobiography of Benjamin Franklin - one of the most fascinating stories of life."

By decision of the World Peace Council, Franklin's name is included in the list of the most prominent representatives of Humanity.

Scientific and inventive activity

• Introduced the now generally accepted designation of the electrically charged states "+" and "-";
• established the identity of atmospheric and friction-generated electricity and provided proof of the electrical nature of lightning;
• established that metal points connected to the ground remove electric charges from charged bodies even without contact with them and proposed in 1752 a draft lightning rod;
• invented bifocal glasses (1784);
• received a patent for the design of a rocking chair;
• in 1742 he invented an efficient, economical small-sized stove for heating houses, called the Franklin stove (or “Pennsylvania fireplace”), and in 1770 he fundamentally improved it and specifically did not patent it for the benefit of all fellow citizens;
• put forward the idea of ​​an electric motor and demonstrated an "electric wheel" rotating under the influence of electrostatic forces;
• first used an electric spark to explode gunpowder;
• explained the principle of operation of the Leyden jar, establishing that the main role in it is played by a dielectric separating the conductive plates;
• fundamentally improved the glass harmonica for which Mozart, Beethoven, Donizetti, R. Strauss, Glinka and Tchaikovsky began to compose;
• developed his own time management system;
• collected extensive data on storm winds (north-east) and proposed a theory explaining their origin;
• with the participation of Benjamin Franklin, measurements were made of the speed, width and depth of the Gulf Stream, and this current, named by Benjamin Franklin, was mapped (1770).

Exploring the Gulf Stream

As postmaster of the colonies, he drew attention to complaints that mail packets from the English port of Falmouth to New York took two weeks longer than ordinary merchant ships from London to New Port, located somewhat east of New York. It turned out that the fault was the Gulf Stream. The mail ships were commanded by English sailors who were unfamiliar with this current, and the merchant ships were commanded by American sailors who from their youth took part in the sea trades off the coast of America. At Franklin's urging, sailors began charting their observations, resulting in the first map of the Gulf Stream.

The study of atmospheric electricity

Franklin's experience in elucidating the electrical nature of lightning is widely known. In 1750, he published a paper in which he proposed an experiment using a kite launched into a thunderstorm. Such an experiment was carried out on May 10, 1752 by the French scientist Thomas-Francois Dalibard (Russian) fr . Not knowing about Dalibard's experience, Franklin conducted his own kite experiment on June 15, 1752 in Philadelphia. Franklin's experience was described in Joseph Priestley's 1767 History and Present Status of Electricity. Priestley says that Franklin was isolated during the experiment to avoid creating a deadly current flow circuit (some researchers died during such experiments: in 1753, the Russian scientist Georg Richman died while studying atmospheric electricity with an ungrounded device). In his notes, Franklin says that he knew about the danger and found an alternative way to demonstrate the electrical nature of lightning, as evidenced by his use of grounding. A common version of the experiment says that Franklin did not wait for the lightning to strike the launched kite (this would be deadly). Instead, he launched a kite into a thundercloud and found that the kite was picking up an electrical charge.

Some of Franklin's writings

• "Autobiography";
• "A Discourse on Freedom and Necessity, Pleasure and Pain";
• "Experiments and observations on electricity";
• "Necessary advice to those who would like to become rich";
• "The Path to Abundance";
• "The Simpleton Richard's Almanac";
• "Whistle" (letter - story).

Memory

sculptures

Monument to Franklin in Lincoln Park Chicago

Monument to Franklin at the University of Pennsylvania

Toponyms

• In 1935, the International Astronomical Union named a crater on the visible side of the Moon after Franklin.

In philately

US Postage Stamp,
1861

US Postage Stamp,
1895

US Postage Stamp,
1903

US Postage Stamp,
1918

Postage stamp of the USSR,
1956

• Franklin is also featured on a 1976 UK postage stamp.

In bonistics

Since 1914, Benjamin Franklin has been featured on every $100 bill.

100 USD. Series 1914

100 USD. Series 1934

Franklin Benjamin (1706 - 1790)

American philosopher, scientist, journalist, publisher, politician. Born in Boston. He was the eighth child in the family of an English immigrant. His father was a craftsman. He received his education on his own.

In 1727 he founded his own printing press in Philadelphia. Published (1729-1748) The Pennsylvania Gazette. In 1731 he founded the first public library in America, in 1743 the American Philosophical Society, in 1751 the University of Pennsylvania.

From 1737 to 1753 served as postmaster of Pennsylvania from 1753 to 1774. - the same position on the scale of all North American colonies.

He called for the abolition of black slavery. According to the philosophical views of the deist. Half a century before A. Smith formulated the labor theory of value. As a naturalist, he is mainly known for his works on electricity, he developed his unitary theory. One of the pioneers in the study of atmospheric electricity, proposed a lightning rod. He was elected a member of the Academies of Sciences of many countries. Foreign honorary member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences (1789).

In 1776 he was sent as ambassador to France with the aim of concluding an alliance with her against England.