Greatest American's Series by Lucky Lady Online Shopping
Benjamin Franklin, the statesman most influential in accomplishing the vital Alliance of 1778 between the United States and France, was one of the most admired men of his time.
He was born in Boston in 1706 and at the age of 17 made his way to Philadelphia where he soon established his own printing business. The business flourished, and when he published the first issue of the Almanac - Poor Richard,1773, it was an immediate best-seller throughout the colonies.
Franklin's inventive genius flourished during the better part of his lifetime. He also conducted a number of scientific experiments, the most famous of which involved flying a kite in a thunderstorm to demonstrate the presence of electricity in lighting.
His talent for organization placed him naturally in a position of leadership, and following the outbreak of conflict between he colonies and England, he was one of the greatest statesmen of the American revolution. He was appointed to the committee that drafted the Declaration of Independence and later traveled to France to help gain that nations active support for the new republic. At first his efforts met with little success.
But finally, through astute diplomatic maneuvering, he was able to accomplish and American - French coalition. On February 6, 1778, Franklin was summons to the office of the French minister foreign affairs where a Treaty of Alliance between the powers was signed.
For the remaining 12 years of his life this remarkable statesman continued to serve his country, becoming the only one of our founding fathers to sign the Declarationof Independence, the alliance with France, the peace agreement with England and the constitution - the four documents that marked the birth of a free sovereign nation. Compliments of Lucky Lady Online Shopping!