Benjamin Franklin 1706 – 1790

Biography

Benjamin Franklin entered the world on January 17, 1706, in Boston, Massachusetts, during a time of great change in the American colonies. His life would span nearly nine decades, witnessing and shaping the transformation of thirteen scattered settlements into a fledgling nation. From his earliest days in New England, Franklin demonstrated the curiosity and industriousness that would define his remarkable character.

A man of exceptional versatility, Franklin devoted himself to numerous pursuits throughout his long life, earning recognition as a polymath and statesman. His contributions extended across multiple disciplines and fields of endeavor, reflecting an insatiable appetite for knowledge and improvement. Whether engaged in intellectual work, public service, or civic leadership, Franklin brought dedication and innovation to all his undertakings.

On April 17, 1790, Franklin’s extraordinary life came to an end in Philadelphia, the city that had become his home and the center of much of his life’s work. He succumbed to pleurisy after a full life richly lived. Franklin was laid to rest at Christ Church Burial Ground in Philadelphia, where his grave remains a testament to his enduring legacy in American history and the hearts of those who remember his contributions to the nation’s founding.