Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

Known as one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, Benjamin Franklin spent much of his life pursuing academic, political, and scientific fields. Franklin was born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1706. He was born to a long line of smiths or tradesmen; his father worked as a candle and soap maker. After an apprenticeship in printing, Franklin moved to Philadelphia. He worked in the Pennsylvania Assembly, started the first subscription library in the state, and served as the United States’ first postmaster general. He also spent time as the American ambassador to France. He is best known for helping to draft the Declaration of Independence and the American Constitution, as well as negotiating the Treaty of Paris during the American Revolution. He also gained fame for his scientific experiments, such as flying a kite in a lightning storm.

Throughout his life, Franklin had a passion for self-improvement and living by a personal ethical code. His autobiography not only details some of his accomplishments but also discusses how he prioritized self-improvement. In doing so, Franklin advises his reader on how to obtain knowledge and utilize it for both their gain and society’s benefit. While his Autobiography was left incomplete at the time of his death, it became popular and highly regarded when published posthumously, although some later critics have suggested that Franklin comes across as conceited and materialistic.