This isn't a tale of Ben Franklin the revolutionary -- the text comes to its end long years before that -- but it does give a fascinating portrait of the man who would become one of America's founding fathers. Oh, we see hints of the trouble developing in Britain's relations with "the colonies"; and Franklin surely had dealings with the British military; but here Franklin is just coming into his own as a political figure when the tale comes to its end. But there is a wisdom, here, and a charm; and certainly a fascinating look into the everyday life of our country's pre-Revolutionary era. Even if Franklin had died after completing this text he would have left behind a powerful legacy.

Author Biography

Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790) was a renowned polymath and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, freemason, postmaster, scientist, inventor, humorist, civic activist, statesman and diplomat. As a scientist, he was a major figure in the American Enlightenment and the history of physics for his discoveries and theories regarding electricity. As an inventor, he is known for the lightning rod, bifocals and the Franklin stove, among other inventions. He founded many civic organizations, including Philadelphia's fire department and the University of Pennsylvania.