Happy Birthday Ben!

Benjamin Franklin was born on Sunday, January 17, 1706 in Boston, Massachusetts, which was then a British colony. He passed away, at age 84, in Philadelphia on April 17, 1790.

"If you would not be forgotten, as soon as you are dead and rotten, either write things worth reading, or do things worth the writing". (Benjamin Franklin)

From The Franklin Institute Online:

America has never forgotten Benjamin Franklin because he did both. He lived these words of wisdom by writing as much as he possibly could and by doing even more. He became famous for being a scientist, an inventor, a statesman, a printer, a philosopher, a musician, and an economist. Today, we honor Ben Franklin as one of our Founding Fathers and as one of America's greatest citizens. Although he was born in Boston, the city of Philadelphia is remembered as the home of Ben Franklin. In Philadelphia, you can find both Ben's gravesite and the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial. You'll also find The Franklin Institute Science Museum.

From his school days on, Benjamin Franklin wanted to be a sailor. His father did not want this because an older son, Josiah, had gone to sea and never returned. Reading was Ben's favorite pastime so his father made the connection to the trade of printing and sent Ben to learn in his brother's printing shop. Ben continued this learning in Philadelphia and England and eventually set up his own printing business in Philadelphia.

For further information on Benjamin Franklin, click here.

[To the tune of Derek Gieselman, "Mr. Clear", from his demo album.]