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Benjamin Franklin -
American Statesman and Inventor

1706 - 1790 A.D.


Benjamin Franklin was born on January 17, 1706 in Boston Massachusetts. Franklin was one of the founding fathers of the United States of America. (1.He, Him) _______ signed the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States, and served as the new nation's ablest diplomat.

Franklin's formal schooling ended early but (2. him, his) _______ education never did. (3. He, Him) _______ believed that "the doors to wisdom are never shut," and read every book (4. he, his) _______ could get (5. he, his) _______ hands on. Franklin taught himself simple algebra and geometry, navigation, logic, history, science, English grammar and five other languages.

Franklin thought successful people were different from other people. (6. His, He) _______ believed that (7. they, them) _______ worked just a little harder than the rest of (8. we, us) _______. Benjamin Franklin certainly did. (9. Him, He) _______ built a successful printing and publishing business in Philadelphia; and (10. him, his) _______ scientific studies of electricity are very famous. (11. They, Them) _______ were also dangerous. Benjamin Franklin was an accomplished diplomat and statesman and (12. him, he) _______ helped establish Pennsylvania's first university. (13. It, Its) _______ is now called the University of Pennsylvania.

Franklin was America's first important inventor. (14. It, He) _______ invented the Franklin stove, bifocal eyeglasses and the lightning rod. (15. He, Him) _______ refused to profit from (16. his, him) _______ inventions, preferring to have (17. them, they) _______ used freely for the comfort and convenience of everyone. (18. He, Him) _______ thought (19. them, they) _______ were too important to make money from (20. them, they) _______.

Famous Franklin sayings:

Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.


God helps those who help themselves.
Little strokes fell great oaks.

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adapted from Lucidcafe Library