Today marks the 320th anniversary of the birth of Benjamin Franklin, recognized for his wide-ranging contributions to American society. The White House released a statement highlighting Franklin’s achievements as a printer, philosopher, inventor, diplomat, public servant, and patriot.
Franklin was born on January 17, 1706, in Boston, Massachusetts. Despite limited formal education and being the fifteenth of seventeen children, he taught himself to read and write. By age 23, Franklin had become an influential publisher in the American Colonies.
The message emphasized Franklin’s innovations and public service. He invented the lightning rod and bifocal glasses and conducted experiments with electricity. Additionally, he established foundational institutions such as the first public library and volunteer fire department in America. As the first Postmaster General, he created an organized mail system that connected the Colonies before they became a unified nation.
According to the statement: “Of his countless triumphs and successes, his most epic contributions to our Republic were those that fortified the cause of freedom.” While serving as an ambassador in England for Pennsylvania’s Assembly, Franklin observed growing British hostility toward the Colonies. In 1775, he was chosen as a delegate to the Second Continental Congress. Alongside John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, Franklin helped draft the Declaration of Independence. The message notes that Franklin suggested Jefferson include: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”
Franklin later traveled to France where he secured French support for America during its struggle against Britain. He also served as a principal negotiator for the Treaty of Paris in 1783 which ended the Revolutionary War. After independence was achieved, Franklin advocated for ratification of the Constitution in 1788. He is one of only six people who signed both foundational documents—the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
The White House statement described him as “the ‘First American’—a title that reflects a life devoted to curiosity, industry, and the cause of human freedom.” It added that Franklin’s intellect shaped American identity around values like courage and civic duty.
The message concluded by affirming that Franklin’s legacy endures through national institutions and continues to influence American society after 250 years.
