Biography

Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston Massachusetts on January 17,1706. Benjamin was the 15th of 17 children. Benjamin's father Josiah Franklin was a soap and candle maker,

and Benjamin's mother was Abiah Folger, Josiah's second wife.In 1723, Benjamin ran away to Philadelphia after leaving an apprenticeship with his brother's print shop and met his future wife Deborah Read. In 1729, he became the owner and publisher of a newspaper called the Pennsylvania Gazette. He married Deborah Read the following year, and they would have three children together.Their first child Francis died of smallpox at the age of 4. In 1748,Franklin retired the printing business in order to focus on other things.

Franklin's wife Deborah died in 1774 after 44 years of marriage.

Benjamin Franklin died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on April 17, 1790 at the age of 84.