The First American: The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin, H.W. Brands

The First American by H.W. Brands is a biography of Benjamin Franklin. Benjamin Franklin was a truly remarkable man. He was the definition of a Renaissance Man. Franklin started out his carreer as a printer arrpenticed to his older brother James. Franklin eventually broke the contract with his brother and escaped to Philadelphia.

Franklin was active in the community of Philadelphia. He started the nations first lending library, founded a hospital, organized a philosophy society adn organized the citiy's first fire brigade. Franklin was also known as an inventor and scientist. He was renowned for his experiments with electricity. He invented lightning rods, the Franklin Stove and bi-focal glasses. Many of Franklins inventions were simply given away to the public throughout his life Franklin did not seem to be driven by a desire to be rich. He was industrious and the consumate entrepeneur — but one always senses that to him it was more than money.

The Brands book focuses on Franklin's development as a politician.

Originally Franklin was a loyal Englishman. He felt that the colonists deserved the same rights as all other loyal englishmen. During the crisis over the Stamp Act Franklin was our man in England. He stood before Parliament and spoke against the act — eloquently stating the rights of the colonists.

In the end Franklin became one of the leaders in the cause of American Liberty. He was subjected to humiliation by privy council. He went to England a loyal subject and returned home as the First American.

Franklin's diplomatic fame came during the Second Continental Congress. Franklin was sent to France as an emissary to the court of the ill-fated Louis XVI. With his credentials as a statesman, scientist and philosopher — he became one of the most popular figures of Enlightenment France. He graced the finest tables and salons of Europe. Medals were cast in his honor and he was welcomed by high society as well as the leading men of arts, letters and the sciences.

Franklin believed in a certain amount of personal discipline. While he was not religious — he felt that religion had benefits to society. When the austere John Adams joined the mission to France, he thought Franklin, lazy and a libertine.

Franklin was instumentalin getting the French support that helped turn the tide inthe American Revolution.

Franklin attended the Constitutional Convention even though at 81 years it was painful for him to get around. During the evening he would receive visitors at his Philadelphia residence. During a paricularly thorny deadlock Franklin rose and said:

In the beginning of the contest with Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayers in this room for Divine protection. Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle have observed frequent instances of superintending Providence in our favor. . . . And have we now forgotten this powerful Friend? Or, do we imagine we no longer need His assistance?… I therefore beg leave to move-that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this assembly every morning before we proceed to business…

While the convention did not heed Franklin's advice, so great was the respect for the man — that none dared speak against it.

This book fleshes out the skeleton knowledge mose of us have about Benjamin Franklin — the First American.

The First American gets 5 of 5 dis-oriented smileys

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