Benjamin Franklin - A Man Before His Time

Benjamin Franklin was a great scientist, philosopher, diplomat, author, and our first national humorist. He was ultimately a man before his time. Benjamin was born in Boston on January 17, 1706 to Abiah Floger of Nantucket, a discreet and virtuous woman, according to Franklin, and Josiah, a candle maker and mechanic. Benjamin Franklin was the eighth of their ten children, and was denied a formal education by his family's poverty. Franklin learned much of what he knew by reading books and periodicals. His favorite author was Joseph Addison, and he basically memorized the English Spectator. Benjamin provided the prototype for qualities that in his day, and ever since has been regarded as characteristically American. Benjamin Franklin also had a worldwide fame for his insatiable curiosity. Franklin never stopped considering things he could not explain. He was always devising experiments to held him understand the world around him, making the world his laboratory. Benjamin Franklin could not look at anything with out wondering what is, how it got that way, and what makes it tick.…