Benjamin Franklin
From: The Autobiography
History/Context: Franklin was one of seventeen children, and rose to eminence frompoverty
- published The Pennsylvania Gazette at the age of 24
- helped found the Academy of Philadelphia, the American Philosophical Society, and the first public library in America
- he was a social beneficent, promoting paved streets, sewer, improved lighting and a fire brigade
- became a diplomat for America to England and France after the American Revolution: was popular in Paris--helped establish the French government after the French Revolution
Text: "Leaving Boston"
- Franklin left Boston because of a dispute with his brother. Franklin is practical, and says that the fault was not entirely his brother's, but "Perhaps I was stoo saucy and provoking"
- Franklin's brother ensured that he would not be allowed to work at any other printing press, forcing Franklin to embark for Philadelphia
- Franklin's practicality shows again when he intends to leave Boston discreetly, "I was sensible that, if I attempted to go opnely, means would be used to prevent me. "
- Practical again: I sold some of my books to raise a little money..."
- Franklin's pragmatism shows in his description of the trip:
- "..when he was sinking, I reached through the water to his shock pate, and drew him up..." There is no flowery description of heroism, just the fact that Franklin saved the drunkard from drowning
- "When we drew near the island, we found...no land[ing]...and I concluded to sleep." Since he could'nt help matters, he chose the practical solution to catch up on sleep he would need to find a new job
"Arriving in Philadelphia"
- Franklin is practical in finding a job: "I was in my working dress, my best clothes being to come round by sea" Franklin puts off finding a job until his better clothes arrive
- Hunger: seeing a boy with a loaf of bread, Franklin inquires where the bakery was, proceeds there, and buys "three-penny worth of any sort"
"Arriving at Moral Perfection"
- Franklin calls this an "arduous project"; this is something that is on-going throughout a lifetime
- In a practical manner, Franklin lists thirteen steps he will take to arrive at "moral perfection"
- In keeping with his practical mannerisms, Franklin sets up a chart, so that he may complete his project in a timely manner
- Franklin's chart also shows how industrious, or hard-working and committed to a task, he was