Benjamin Franklin

Summary

Benjamin Franklin is a human^[1]. His place of birth was Boston^[2]. He was born on January 17, 1706^[3]. He died in Philadelphia^[4]. He died on April 17, 1790^[5]. He worked as a politician^[6], publisher^[7], printer^[8], political theorist^[9], and inventor^[10]. He ranks in the top 0.1% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (31,264 views/month, #1,005 of 1,000,298).^[11]

Key Facts

• Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston^[2].
• Benjamin Franklin died in Philadelphia^[4].
• Benjamin Franklin was born on January 17, 1706^[3].
• Benjamin Franklin died on April 17, 1790^[5].
• Benjamin Franklin is buried at Christ Church Burial Ground^[12].
• Benjamin Franklin's father was Josiah Franklin^[13].
• Benjamin Franklin's mother was Abiah Folger^[14].
• Benjamin Franklin was married to Deborah Read Franklin^[15].
• A child of Benjamin Franklin was William Franklin^[16].
• A child of Benjamin Franklin was Francis Folger Franklin^[17].
• A child of Benjamin Franklin was Sarah Franklin Bache^[18].
• Benjamin Franklin held citizenship in British America^[19].
• Benjamin Franklin held citizenship in United States^[20].
• Benjamin Franklin's professions included politician^[6].
• Benjamin Franklin's professions included publisher^[7].
• Benjamin Franklin's professions included printer^[8].
• Benjamin Franklin's professions included political theorist^[9].
• Benjamin Franklin worked as an inventor^[10].
• Benjamin Franklin's professions included political activist^[21].
• Benjamin Franklin's field of work was physics^[22].
• Benjamin Franklin held the position of United States Ambassador to France^[23].
• Benjamin Franklin held the position of United States Ambassador to Sweden^[24].
• Benjamin Franklin held the position of United States Postmaster General^[25].
• Benjamin Franklin held the position of Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives^[26].
• Benjamin Franklin held the position of President of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania^[27].

Body

Origins and Family

Benjamin Franklin's place of birth was Boston^[2]. He was born on January 17, 1706^[3]. His father was Josiah Franklin^[13]. His mother was Abiah Folger^[14].

Education

Benjamin Franklin was educated at Boston Latin School^[28].

Career and Affiliations

Recorded occupations include politician^[6], publisher^[7], printer^[8], political theorist^[9], inventor^[10], and political activist^[21]. Benjamin Franklin's field of work was physics^[22]. Among his employers was University of Pennsylvania^[29]. Positions held include United States Ambassador to France^[23], a position^[30], in France^[31], founded in 1778^[32]; United States Ambassador to Sweden^[24], a position^[33], in Sweden^[34], founded in 1782^[35]; United States Postmaster General^[25], a position^[36], in United States^[37], founded in 1775^[38]; Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives^[26], a position^[39], in United States^[40]; President of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania^[27]; and member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives^[41], a position^[42], in United States^[43].

Recognition

Awards received include Copley Medal^[44], a medallion^[45], in United Kingdom^[46], founded in 1731^[47]; honorary doctor of the University of St Andrews^[48], an award^[49], in United Kingdom^[50]; and Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences^[51], a fellowship award^[52].

Personal Life

Benjamin Franklin was married to Deborah Read Franklin^[15]. Children include William Franklin^[16], a politician^[53], 1730–1813^[54], of Kingdom of Great Britain^[55]; Francis Folger Franklin^[17], 1732–1736^[56], of United States^[57]; and Sarah Franklin Bache^[18], 1743–1808^[58], of United States^[59]. His religion is recorded as deism^[60].

Death and Burial

Benjamin Franklin died on April 17, 1790^[5]. He died in Philadelphia^[4]. The cause of death was pleurisy^[61]. Burial took place at Christ Church Burial Ground^[12].

Works and Contributions

Things named for Benjamin Franklin include Joseph Paul Franklin^[62], a murderer^[63], 1950–2013^[64], of United States^[65]; USS Franklin^[66]; Franklin County^[67]; Franklin & Marshall College^[68]; Franklin Field^[69]; Franklin half dollar^[70]; Franklin^[71]; and Benjamin Franklin Bridge^[72].

Why It Matters

Benjamin Franklin ranks in the top 0.1% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (31,264 views/month, #1,005 of 1,000,298).^[11] He has Wikipedia articles in 30 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.^[73] He is known by 60 alternative names across languages and contexts.^[74]

He is credited with the discovery of lightning rod^[75]; Franklin stove^[76], a stove^[77]; and bifocal lens^[78]. Works attributed to him include Poor Richard's Almanack^[79], an almanac^[80], founded in 1732^[81], headquartered in Philadelphia^[82]; The Autobiography of him^[83], a literary work^[84]; The Morals of Chess^[85], a literary work^[86]; and Experiments and Observations on Electricity^[87], a non-fiction work^[88]. Entities named for him include Joseph Paul Franklin^[62], a murderer^[63], 1950–2013^[64], of United States^[65]; USS Franklin^[66]; Franklin County^[67]; Franklin & Marshall College^[68]; Franklin Field^[69]; and Franklin half dollar^[70].

FAQs

Where was Benjamin Franklin born?

Benjamin Franklin's place of birth was Boston^[2].

Where did Benjamin Franklin die?

Benjamin Franklin died in Philadelphia^[4].

Who were Benjamin Franklin's parents?

Benjamin Franklin's father was Josiah Franklin^[13]. Benjamin Franklin's mother was Abiah Folger^[14].

Who was Benjamin Franklin married to?

Benjamin Franklin's spouses include Deborah Read Franklin^[15].

What did Benjamin Franklin do for work?

Benjamin Franklin worked as politician^[6], publisher^[7], printer^[8], political theorist^[9], and inventor^[10].

Where did Benjamin Franklin go to school?

Benjamin Franklin was educated at Boston Latin School^[28].

What awards did Benjamin Franklin receive?

Honors received include Copley Medal^[44], honorary doctor of the University of St Andrews^[48], and Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences^[51].

What did Benjamin Franklin discover?

Benjamin Franklin is credited as discoverer of lightning rod^[75], Franklin stove^[76], and bifocal lens^[78].