Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)

Franklin’s Autobiography is available in its entirety at:
http://www.ushistory.org/franklin/autobiography/index.htm

A classic 1843 biography of Franklin by Jared Sparks is available at: http://www.ushistory.org/franklin/biography/index.htm

A timeline, web-based biography (partially complete) of Franklin's life and accomplishments is at: 
http://www.english.udel.edu/lemay/franklin/

Quick Facts on Franklin are at: 
http://www.ushistory.org/franklin/facts/index.htm

This site provides a summary overview of Franklin’s life and contributions, by subject and event: http://sln.fi.edu/franklin/

Article reviews Franklin's life and several new biographies that offer a provocative reassessment of Franklin's contributions at: http://www.usnews.com/usnews/issue/030623/misc/23ben.htm

References for Kids

A summary of Franklin’s life and contributions are available at: http://www.thedeclarationofindependence.org/BenjaminFranklin.org

Prepared for children by the U.S. Government Printing Office, this site contains separate sections on Franklin: printer, inventor, librarian and statesman:
http://bensguide.gpo.gov/benfranklin/index.html

Bios on Franklin created by students:
http://www.thinkquest.org/library/lib/site_sum_outside.html?tname=22254&url=22254/home.htm

Ben Franklin – The Publishing Years: 
http://www.school-for-champions.com/biographies/franklin.htm

See a copy of Ben Franklin’s Pennsylvania Gazette:
http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica/past/past.html

The glass armonica: 
http://sln.fi.edu/pieces/dukerich/

The lightening rod: 
http://sln.fi.edu/pieces/hongell/

Here’s some information about Ben Franklin’s Philadelphia:
http://www.nashville-schools.davidson.k12.tn.us/CurriculumAwards/colonists/FranklinPhila.html

A description of how Ben Franklin learned the trade from his brother: http://www.ushistory.org/franklin/courant/index.htm

In his own words Franklin describes how he became a printer: http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/B/bfranklin/franklin_how.html

Information about Franklin’s newspaper, the Pennsylvania Gazette:
http://www.accessible.com/about/aboutPG.htm

Ben Franklin – The Publishing Years: 
http://www.school-for-champions.com/biographies/franklin.htm

See a copy of Ben Franklin’s Pennsylvania Gazette:
http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica/past/past.html

This site provides a brief overview of his life as a printer: 
http://sln.fi.edu/franklin/printer/printer.html

Franklin flies a kite in a storm and finds electricity: 
http://www.ushistory.org/franklin/kite/index.htm

The Franklin Stove: 
http://web.mit.edu/invent/iow/franklin.html

Franklin invents a musical instrument called “the glass armonica”:
http://www.gigmasters.com/armonica/index.asp

This site provides a brief overview of most of his inventions:
http://sln.fi.edu/franklin/inventor/inventor.html

Take a virtual walking tour of colonial Philadelphia: 
http://www.ushistory.org/franklin/philadelphia/index.htm

Here’s a brief overview of  Philadelphia’s history, including colonial and revolutionary: http://mcmcweb.er.usgs.gov/phil/philhistory.html#AmRev

Here is a collection of paintings of Franklin and the key events of his life: http://www.ushistory.org/franklin/pictures/index.htm

Review of Franklin’s Role in America’s Relations with Britain: http://www.earlyamerica.com/review/2003_winter_spring/franklin_father.htm

Franklin’s involvement  in a controversy over a preacher’s sermons: http://www.earlyamerica.com/review/summer/franklin/index.html 

A book on Ben Franklin and the Iroquois Nation: 
http://www.ratical.org/many_worlds/6Nations/FF.html

In His Own Words

Collected writings of Ben Franklin 1726-1757:
http://www.historycarper.com/resources/twobf2/contents.htm

Franklin’s Journal of A Voyage: 
http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/D/1726-1750/franklin/voy.htm

Franklin’s Autobiography: 
http://www.ushistory.org/franklin/autobiography/index.htm

How Ben Franklin became a Printer: 
http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/B/bfranklin/franklin_how.html

Franklin’s Last Will and Testament: 
http://sln.fi.edu/franklin/family/lastwill.html

Ben Franklin’s Thoughts  on Wealth: 
http://itech.fgcu.edu/faculty/wohlpart/alra/franklin.htm

Ben Franklin’s Advice on Marriage:
http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica/bookmarks/franklin/index.html