Benjamin Franklin Essay

I. INTRODUCTIONBenjamin Franklin was born in Boston as the son of a certificate of deposit fatherr. From humble beginnings, he grew into a renowned figure of American history. He became famous for being a scientist, an inventor, a statesman, a printer, a philosopher, a musician, and an economist. To daylight, Americans recognize him for being cardinal of our Founding Fathers and a prominent citizen of the city of Philadelphia. In his autobiography, Franklin shows that he desired self-improvement and in pursuit of this goal focused on improvements of four different types intellectual, moral, business, and social.II. BODYFranklins intellectual improvements were numerous. As a child, he had a thirst for knowledge. He exhibited a readiness to learn and read at an early age, and while in school, he rose to the head of his class and then skipped a grade. After Franklins father pointed let go forth that he had a poor manner of make-up, Franklin resolved to improve not only his manner of writing but in like manner his arrangement of thoughts in his written work. His ambition was to become a good English writer. In his junior age, he also was intent on improving his language and when he got previous(a) he taught himself French, Italian, Spanish, and Latin. He used the library as a means of improvement by unvarying study of one to two hours per day here. Franklin went to vast lengths to achieve moral improvement. As a young man, Franklin developed a plan regulating his future conduct in life that he adhered to redden in his old age. He wrote a list of moral characters that he would like to possess much(prenominal) as temperance, self-denial, and humility. He had thirteen categories in all that he wrote down in a record book to carry with him.He had a separate column for each day of the week. He would pull out(p) the book and mark which virtues he felt he had committed a fault in that day so that he may examine them and improve upon them. During the cour se of this practice, Franklin said that he found himself gas-filled of faults than he would have thought, but he had the satisfaction of seeing those faults diminish. His actions also showed that he strove for moral perfection. He thought excessive drinking was a detestable habit and abstained from doing so when his coworkers drank all day long. He spent no time in taverns, playing games, or displaying antics of any kind. He also believed in the importance of frugality and did his best to save money on ho victimisation. During the eighteen months he lived in London, he worked hard and spent little on himself except for the occasional play or book. It was his practice of frugality that lead to his wealth and distinction later in life. Benjamin Franklin had a Quaker friend that pointed out that he thought that Franklin had a problem with pride and so Franklin endeavored to be more humble.He attributed his humility, or sometimes his appearance of humility, with allowing him to hold so much weight with his fellow citizens. Franklin also strove for truth, sincerity, and integrity in all of his business incubateings. Not only did Franklin improve intellectually and morally but he also make improvements in business. In little time after becoming an apprentice to his brother, he exhibited great proficiency in the notion business. He was able to take a failing news writing and make it profitable by developing a better type and better print which led to an ontogenesis in the number of subscribers. He made a mold to be used in print houses to combat the problem of equipment deficiencies. He also made a copper press to print paper money. He filled the spaces in Poor Richards Almanac with proverbial sentences for the benefit of its readers. Similarly, he made use of newspapers to communicate instruction. Franklin also contributed greatly to social improvements in his day.He formed a connection of mutual improvement called JUNTO. He started the Philadelphia public lib rary which was an institution that was imitated by other towns. He laid the ground work for a more effective city watch and started the first fire company. He established a Philosophical Society in Pennsylvania and also an academy that grew into the University of Pennsylvania. He invented a more efficient and economical stove known as the Franklin stove. He helped in the establishing of a hospital in Philadelphia and also in streets being paved.Franklin was generally successful in his attempts at self-improvement, excelling from an early age. He attempted to be the best person he could be and genuinely desired to help others. He convinced coworkers to stop drinking and spend their money of food instead and also loaned money to them. He loaned money to his friends, Collins and Ralph, even though they took advantage of him and never repaid their debts. He recognized that Keimer was only using him to train his workers and then was going to fire him, yet Franklin still cheerfully put Keimers printing house in order. Franklin was also always eager to help young beginners. He further present that he was not a self-promoter when he had a chance for a better business deal but declined because of the obligations he felt he had with his current partners.III. CONCLUSIONFranklin has long been revered as one of the great figures of American history. As a Founding Father, he was instrumental in the early years of shaping the American government. Throughout his lifetime, he strove for improvement in intellectual, moral, business, and social areas and was successful in his attempts in each of these areas. He was a benevolent individual who desired to help others, and he authored his autobiography in the hope that posterity would follow his example and reap the same benefitsReferencesBenjamin Franklin Glimpses of the Man. 1994. The Franklin Institute Science Museum. http//www.fi.edu/franklin/ (accessed June 4, 2012).Franklin, Benjamin. 1909. The story of Benjamin Franklin . Ed. Charles W. Eliot. New York P F Collier & Son Company.