Benjamin Franklin, an American philosopher and statesman, born in Boston, Jan. 17, 1706, died in Philadelphia, April 17, 1790. He was the youngest, except two daughters, of a family of 17 children. His father, a nonconformist, emigrated to New England in 1682 in search of religious freedom; his mother, his father's second wife, was Abiah Folger, daughter of a distinguished colonist, Peter Folger, author of a poem in defence of liberty of conscience. Franklin's father, originally a dyer, became in Boston a tallow chandler and soap boiler. Having bound out his elder sons apprentices to trades, he designed the youngest"as a tithe of his sons" for the church. The child was placed at school at the age of eight, and manifested an aptitude for study; but narrowed circumstances compelled his early withdrawal, and at the age of ten he was employed in cutting wicks and attending to the shop. This was so distasteful to Benjamin that he began to talk of going to sea, to prevent which his father bound him apprentice to his brother James, a printer. The boy, always fond of reading, now sat up nights engaged in study. His earliest favorites were Defoe's "Essay on Projects," Mather'sEssays to do Good," Bunyan's works, Plutarch, and Burton's historical collections.

He conceived also a fancy for poetry, and wrote ballads, the "Lighthouse Tragedy," and the "Pirate Teach, or Blackbeard." These were published, but his father looked discour-agingly upon this proceeding, and "thus," humorously says Franklin in his autobiography,I escaped being a poet." Meeting with an odd volume of the Spectator," he was so much delighted that he contrived ingenious methods of mastering the style and acquiring an ability in composition which he considered a principal means of his subsequent advancement. At the age of 16 he mastered arithmetic without assistance, and studied navigation. He read also at this period "Locke on the Human Understanding," the "Port Royal Logic," and a translation of Xenophon's "Memorabilia." He had read Shaftesbury and Collins, and becoming a skeptic, applied himself to skilful devices of argumentation gathered from the "Memorabilia," practised them as exercises in conversation, and often defeated antagonists whose cause and understanding were, as he afterward confessed, deserving of the victory. When about 16 years of age he met with a book by "one Tryon," recommending vegetable diet, which he adopted; it proved economical, and he gained thus an additional fund for purchasing books.

Meantime he wrote a paper in a disguised hand for the "New England Courant," published by his brother; it was printed anonymously, met with approbation, and excited curiosity. Other communications followed in the same manner, and at length the author was discovered. The brother took it amiss, the circumstance was a first occasion of hard words, and the young apprentice was beaten. Exception was taken by the general court to the political character of Franklin's newspaper. The elder brother was imprisoned, and the future publication of the journal by James Franklin was forbidden. The younger Franklin undertook to elude the interdict by consenting to be nominal printer. This required the cancelling of his indentures as apprentice, but the brother required new and secret indentures. The paper reappeared, and was continued for several months, nominally printed and published by Benjamin Franklin. A fresh difference soon arose between the brothers, and the apprentice, supposing his master would not produce the secret articles of agreement, asserted his liberty. His brother's influence, however, prevented him from getting employment at any of the printing offices in Boston, and he resolved to go to New York in search of work.

He accordingly induced the captain of a trading vessel to take him secretly on board, on pretence of escaping the consequences of an unfortunate intrigue, He sold his books, and in three days was in New York, at the age of 17, friendless, almost penniless, and without recommendations. Disappointed there, he went to Philadelphia. His voyage from New York to Perth Amboy in an open boat was eventful; he saved the life of a drunken Dutchman, who fell overboard; and after being 30 hours without food or water, he landed at Amboy, suffering from fever, which he says he cured by drinking plentifully of cold water. He walked thence to Burlington, and took boat to Philadelphia, arriving after some difficulty and danger at the foot of Market street at 9 o'clock on a Sunday morning. He had one dollar, and about a shilling in copper coin; the latter he gave to the boatmen. He bought three rolls of bread, and ate one as he walked up the street with the others under his arms, and his pockets stuffed with stockings and shirts.

Thus equipped he passed by the house of his future father-in-law; his future wife was at the door, and remarked the awkward and ridiculous appearance of the passer-by. He gave bis rolls to a poor woman, and walked idly into a Quaker meeting house, where he fell into a comfortable sleep; it was the first house and the first repose of which he had the benefit in Philadelphia. He found employment with an unskilful printer named Keimer, and obtained lodging at Mr. Read's, the father of the young lady who had noticed him eating his roll. The governor of the province, Sir William Keith, accidentally saw one of his letters, and was struck with evidences of the writer's superiority. To the amazement of Franklin, Sir William sought him out, proposed to him to set up business for himself, and promised him the public printing. He was induced by these promises to agree to go to England to purchase types and material; and previously to doing so, to return to Boston to obtain his father's consent. This was withheld, and Franklin returning to Philadelphia remained some time longer with his first employer.

In the mean time he had made progress in his courtship of Miss Read. The governor invited him often to his house, and adhered apparently to his original intention of setting him up in independent business. Arrangements therefore were completed for the voyage to London. His father's permission was no longer withheld. Miss Read consented to an engagement, and he embarked, being just 18. On arriving in London he discovered that he had been grossly deceived by the governor. Sir William Keith, a good governor for the people, planned many excellent laws," but having "nothing else to give, had given expectations." Franklin was alone in a foreign country, without credit or acquaintance, and almost penniless. He promptly sought a printer, and took service for nearly a year. He fell into some extravagance, and committed follies of which he became ashamed, and from which he returned self-rebuked to industry and temperance. He wrote and published a metaphysical criticism upon Wollaston's "Religion of Nature;" his employer saw his talent and ingenuity, but expostulated against the principles advanced in his essay. The pamphlet was an introduction to some literary acquaintances.