How was Benjamin Franklin a leading author?

Question

How was he a leading author, along as a publisher?

Answer 1

Check out sln.fl.edu/franklin/rotten.html

One fact you will find is "At the age of twelve, Ben Franklin first began to learn the business of printing the truth. His older brother James had set up a printing office in Boston and Ben learned quickly as an apprentice. By the time Ben was seventeen, he was a fully skilled printer able to work in any print shop. With this skill, Ben was able to leave Boston and find work in both Philadelphia and London. In 1728, at the age of twenty-two, Ben opened his own printing office in Philadelphia. His most famous publications were a newspaper called The Pennsylvania Gazette and his annual Poor Richard's Almanack. He had many new ideas for publishing and he is known for printing cartoons, illustrated news stories, and letters to the editor. He believed in the power of the press, using his printing press as a way to bring the news to all people. He used cartoons and pictures so that everyone could understand the news, even people who had not learned to read. Ben also used Poor Richard's Almanack to express his sense of humor.
In 1731, Ben founded America's first circulating library so that people could borrow books to read even though they might not have been able to afford to buy books to read. Again, Ben wanted to use his printing press to help people understand the world around them. "

Answer 2

In the era of the colonies before American independence, Franklin was one of the best known and successful authors in America, as well as a successful publisher, a scientist inventor and diplomat. His "Poor RIchard's Almanack" was a "best-seller", as we would say today. His articles in the Philadelphia papers were the equivalent of the most-read newspaper columnists of today. And his "Autobiography", one of the most important books in the early days of the United States. Someone once said that Benjamin Franklin was perhaps the MOST FAMOUS American of his time in Europe !

Answer 3

Hope this helps.

Benjamin Franklin (January 17 [O.S. January 6] 1706 – April 17, 1790) was one of the most well-known Founding Fathers of the United States. He was a leading author, politician, printer, scientist, philosopher, publisher, inventor, civic activist, and diplomat. As a scientist he was a major figure in the history of physics for his discoveries and theories regarding electricity. As a political writer and activist he, more than anyone, invented the idea of an American nation[1], and as a diplomat during the American Revolution, he secured the French alliance that made independence possible.

Franklin was noted for his curiosity, his writings (popular, political and scientific), and his diversity of interests. His writings are proverbial for being wise and scintillating to this day. As a leader of the Enlightenment, he gained the recognition of scientists and intellectuals across Europe. An agent in London before the Revolution, and Minister to France during it, he more than anyone defined the new nation in the minds of Europe. His success in securing French military and financial aid was the turning point for American victory over Britain. He invented the lightning rod; he was an early proponent of colonial unity; historians hail him as the "First American." The city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania marked Franklin's 300th birthday in January 2006 with a wide array of exhibitions and events citing Franklin's accomplishments.

Born in Boston, Massachusetts to a devout Anglican tallow-maker, he was baptized at Old South Meeting House. Franklin learned printing from his older brother and became a newspaper editor, printer, and merchant in Philadelphia, becoming very wealthy. He spent many years in England and published the famous Poor Richard's Almanac and the Pennsylvania Gazette. He formed both the first public lending library and fire department in America as well as the Junto, a political discussion club. During this period he wrote in favor of paper money, against mercantilist policies such as the Iron Act of 1750, he also drafted, in 1754, the Albany Plan of Union, which would have created a continental legislature, showing how early he conceived of the colonies as being naturally one political unit.

Franklin became a national hero in America when he spearheaded the effort to have Parliament repeal the unpopular Stamp Act. An accomplished diplomat, he was widely admired among the French as American minister to Paris, and was a major figure in the development of positive Franco-American relations. From 1775 to 1776, Franklin was Postmaster General under the Continental Congress and from 1785 to his death in 1790 was President of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania. Towards the end of his life, he became one of the most prominent abolitionists.

Franklin was interested in science and technology, carrying out his famous electricity experiments and inventing, in addition to his very important lightning rod, the Franklin stove, catheter, swimfins, glass harmonica, and bifocals. He also played a major role in establishing the University of Pennsylvania and Franklin and Marshall College. He was elected the first president of the American Philosophical Society, the oldest learned society in the United States, in 1769. Franklin was fluent in five languages. He is typically recognized as a polymath.

Answer 4

His Poor Richard's Almanac and autobiography were both extensively known, among his other books.

Answer 5

how? He wrote. He printed. He published. He was well read by many.