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Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin was the first “Mr. America”. More than any other Founding Father, he defined the character of the new nation.

Born into poverty in Boston in 1706, he was the tenth child of a candle maker. He had almost no formal education. Selftaught, he would become one of the most influential, admired and celebrated Americans in the country’s history.

At age 12, he became a printer’s apprentice. He ran away to Philadelphia at 17 to pursue his trade. He became publisher of The Pennsylvania Gazette and the author of Poor Richard’s Almanac.

Published annually for 15 years, the Almanac contained a calendar, weather, folk wisdom, remedies, and proverbs. For example, he told readers, “Diligence is the Mother of Good Luck”, “Wink at small faults, remember thou has great ones”, “There’s more old drunks than there are old doctors”, “He that lives on hope, dies farting”.

It was a best seller, second only to the Bible. Using reason, logic, satire, and absurdity, Poor Richard’s Almanac became America’s first great folk classic. Not until Mark Twain would another American so capture his time and culture.

An inventor, young Franklin’s experiments with electricity led him to develop the lightening rod. Until then, cities and villages, built largely of wood, were terrorized by every thunderstorm.

But Ben Franklin was not all work and no play. Throughout his life he was a gamester and social gambler, preferring contests of skill and strategy. He loved chess, checkers and numerous card games popular at the time.

Wagering usually accompanied Draughts (checkers) in Colonial America. Franklin admitted, “It is a game I much delight in; but it requires a clear head…” He concluded, “Courage is almost as requisite for the good conduct of this game as in a real battle.” Although Poker was still some years away, he might have said the same about it.

Card playing was enormously popular throughout America in the 1700s. At the social gatherings of ladies of rank and means, Loo or Whist for modest stakes was often the highlight event.

Taverns were important gathering places where men exchanged news and views over beer and cards. Here, craftsmen, shopkeepers, sailors, lawyers, and politicians first explored and expressed ideas of individual freedom, equality and independence. It was in the taverns and around the card tables of early America that the demand for democracy took hold.

A successful newspaper publisher, author and accomplished scientist, Ben Franklin retired from business at 42. Highly regarded and not one to remain idle, he accepted appointment as Postmaster General for the Colonies in 1753. Organizing the postal system was the first early effort to unite the Colonies.

In an effort to assert its authority and raise more revenue, England passed the Stamp Act in 1765. It put a tax on all paper products and was especially aimed at the voluminous sale of decks of cards. Reaction throughout the Colonies was loud and violent. Americans felt strongly that since they had no representation in Parliament, the Crown had no right to tax them. Printer Franklin, an American-born card manufacturer, was sympathetic.

In London at the time, Franklin was able to convince the British to repeal the tax. It was critical because it postponed war with Britain another ten years, allowing the Americans to become better prepared.

Almost 70 when the American Revolution started, Franklin served as a member of the Continental Congress and helped Thomas Jefferson write the Declaration of Independence. He reminded the signers, “We must all hang together, or most assuredly we will all hang separately.”

In 1776, Franklin sailed for Paris to join John Adams as America’s diplomats to France. Their mission was French support and, most importantly, Naval protection for the American cause. Eventually they would negotiate the Treaty of Paris with Britain in 1783, ending the War of Independence.

Task-master Adams often grew frustrated with Franklin’s casualness. The Philadelphian printer considered himself a common man, an American. He rejected the silk stockings, ruffles, wigs, and perfumes of the aristocracy. He intentionally dressed plainly, like an average American citizen.

Adams complained that it was Franklin’s habit to sleep late after a night “in various Games as Cards, Chess and Backgammon”. Ben didn’t let it bother him, he told friends that when he was in the mood, “I just shuffle the cards and begin another game.”

An avid chess player, Benjamin Franklin once played “The Turk”, a lifesized clockwork automaton built to play and win at chess. It fascinated the rich and famous throughout Europe in the 1770s.

When Franklin returned home to Philadelphia, he was nominated to be a delegate to the Constitutional Convention. He was instrumental in getting the document unanimously adopted and signed. Late in life, the revered elder American statesman continued to enjoy playing cards. He counted Cribbage among his favorite “private amusements”.

He wrote, “Cards we play here in long winter evenings…not for money but for honour… the pleasure of beating one another.” Benjamin Franklin passed away at the age of 84 in 1790. He’d devoted half his life to serving his country. In his Autobiography, he said his rule for public office was “never ask, never refuse, never resign.”

Franklin had little interest in religion. His philosophy was, “A virtuous heretic shall be saved before a wicked Christian.”

Benjamin Franklin wrote his own epitaph in advance. It revealed both his humility and humor: “B. Franklin, Printer… Lies here, food for worms.”

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