FRANKLIN, BENJAMIN
\fɹˈaŋklɪn], \fɹˈaŋklɪn], \f_ɹ_ˈa_ŋ_k_l_ɪ_n]\
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(January 17, 1706-April 17, 1790),one of the most eminent American statesmen, philosophers and writers, was born in Boston, the son of a tallow-chandler and soap-boiler. He was apprenticed to his elder brother, a printer, and developed an eager fondness for books and writing. At seventeen he ran away to Philadelphia, where, in 1729, he established a newspaper. His public spirit, his talents as a writer and the fame of his scientific discoveries advanced him in prominence. In 1753 he was appointed deputy postmaster-general of the British colonies. In 1754, being a member of the Albany Convention, he proposed an important plan for colonial union. From 1757 to 1762, and again from 1764 to the Revolution, he was agent of Pennsylvania in England; part of the time, also, for Massachusetts, New Jersey and Georgia. In 1773, acting as agent for the political leaders in Massachusetts, he sent over to them the correspondence of Hutchinson, Oliver and other Massachusetts loyalists with a confidant of the British Ministry. The publication of the letters aroused great excitement in the colonies, and brought down upon Franklin violent abuse on the part of the ministerialists, and dismissal from his office of postmaster-general. In 1775, seeing that reconciliation was impossible, he returned to Pennsylvania, and was at once chosen a delegate to the Continental Congress. In 1776 he was one of the committee of five who drew up the Declaration of Independence, and in the autumn was sent to join Arthur Lee and Silas Deane in the mission to France. In Paris he was received with great enthusiasm. He succeeded in obtaining from the French Government not only the treaty of 1778, but also large sums of money supplied in secret before that government declared war on England and openly afterward. Franklin had a leading part in the beginnings of negotiation with Great Britain for peace and independence. In respect to the actual manner in which the treaty was concluded, he was overruled by Adams and Jay, who deemed it best, contrary to the instructions of Congress, to negotiate apart from France and make separate terms. Franklin played an important part in the arrangements of the treaty, especially those respecting the loyalists. After the Treaty of Versailles had thus been signed (September 3, 1783), Franklin negotiated a favorable treaty with Prussia. In 1785 Franklin returned to America, and was chosen president of Pennsylvania, and again in 1786 and 1787. He was an influential member of the Convention of 1787, and died at Philadelphia a few years later. Beside his eminence as a statesman and as a philosopher and scientific discoverer, Franklin was noted as a shrewd and practical philanthropist, and was one of the best of English writers. Writings edited by Sparks (1850) and by Ford (1887); autobiography; lives by Parton and Hale.
By John Franklin Jameson
Word of the day
Dopamine Acetyltransferase
- An enzyme that catalyzes the of groups from acetyl-CoA to arylamines. They have wide specificity for aromatic amines, particularly serotonin, and can also catalyze acetyl transfer between arylamines without CoA. EC 2.3.1.5.