The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin
Franklin was born in Boston in 1706. He was apprenticed as a printer to his older brother, but disliked his treatment and ran off to Philadelphia. There he worked as a printer and through his industry and frugality prospered. He married Deborah Read and had a daughter. Before the marriage he had already fathered an illegitimate son, William, who was also raised by Deborah.
In 1748 he retired from business to devote himself to scientific and phi...
