Benjamin Franklin: Founding Father and Inventor

by Leila Merrell Foster

Discusses the life of the multi-talented American who was a scientist and an inventor, a writer and a printer, as well as playing an influential role in early U.S. history

128 pages, Library Binding

First published August 1, 1997

About the author

Leila Merrell Foster is a United Methodist minister, a clinical psychologist, and a lawyer. She has a Ph.D. and a J.D. from Northwestern University and an M.Div. from Garrett Theological Seminary. She has written some 54 adult books, chapters, articles, videotape scripts, and 23 children’s books.

Reviews

[Yassine Idhali · Rating 3 out of 5]

“ I don’t think that Franklin has found his real place in American history yet - he was one of the great ones of his time and of all American history.” – President Harry Truman (Foster 113). Benjamin Franklin Founding Father and Inventor, a biography of Benjamin Franklin, was written by the world famous author Leila Merrell Foster. Benjamin Franklin was born on January 17, 1706, in Boston. At the age of twelve, he goes to work with his brother, James, in a printing shop. One day, he went to London to study the latest developments in printing. When he came back to Philadelphia in 1726, he works hard and sets up his newspaper, the Pennsylvania Gazette, in 1729. In 1748, he retired from the printing business. He then conducted a lightning experiment in 1752. In 1776, he assists in the drafting and signs the declaration of independence. In 1782, he signs the peace treaty with Britain. He planned the treaty that officially ended the revolutionary war. In 1785, he is elected president of Pennsylvania and member of the Constitution. In 1787, he signed the Constitution of the United States. And finally, he dies on April 7th, 1790, at the age of eighty-four. Three important things that I’ve learned are that Benjamin Franklin is not a president, he wrote and signed the declaration of independence, and that he signed the peace treaty with England. Thus, this captivating biography was skillfully developed through the author’s use of description.

The biography, Benjamin Franklin Founding Father and Inventor, taught the reader many interesting facts about Benjamin Franklin’s life. The content in this book relates to a scientific career. Benjamin Franklin is a very famous scientist who conducted a lightning experiment in 1752. The content of this book relates to what I have previously learned in science class. Last year with Mr. Smith in science class, we’ve learned about thunder. This content falls under the branch of physical science, because Benjamin Franklin’s experiment regarded thunder and thunder goes in the branch physical science. Benjamin Franklin’s life is very interesting to study.

The biography, Benjamin Franklin Founding Father and Inventor, is a very fascinate, descriptive and interesting book. I would highly recommend this biography to young scientists and physicians who want to discover more about physical science. As well as readers who want to know more about America’s history and about Benjamin Franklin’s private life. As one can see, the amazing biography, Benjamin Franklin Founding Father and Inventor, is considered very exciting because of its use of description.

[Ghali Oudghiri · Rating 2 out of 5]

Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston 1706 January 17. He helped write the Declaration of independence and talked about the 1783 Treaty of Paris. Benjamin's father (Josiah Franklin) who was a soap and candle maker had 17 children. 7 with his first wife (Anne Child) and 10 with Abiah folger. Benjamin was the youngest boy but older than 2 sisters. Ben succeed at Boston Latin School but left at 10 to work with his father. In the next several years Ben had jobs such as bookkeeper,shopkeeper and currency cutter. He fathered a son named William. In late 1727, Ben made a group of social and self-improvement study group for young men and a year later made his own print shop with a partner.