Benjamin Franklin was born on Milk Street in Boston on January 17, 1706. His father was Josiah Franklin, a candle and soap maker. His mother was Abiah Folger and she was Josiah's second wife. Benjamin Franklin was the youngest son of 17 children. Benjamin attended Boston Latin School for two years but did not graduate due to lack of money; however he continued his education by reading large quantities. His parents wanted him to go to church, but at age 10 his schooling ended and he worked for his father until the age of 12, when he became an apprentice printer for his brother James. When Benjamin was 15, his brother created “New England”. Courant" which was the first independent newspaper in the colonies. Benjamin was not allowed to write for the newspaper, so he invented a pseudonym of Mrs. Silence Dogood. These letters were published and became a topic of conversation in the town. When his older brother, James, discovered that these letters belonged to Benjamin, he was not happy. Benjamin Franklin left his apprenticeship without permission and became a fugitive. At age 17, Franklin fled to Philadelphia to seek help. new start On his arrival he worked in a few printing houses in the city He was convinced to go to London by Sir William Keith who reportedly wanted to start a new newspaper, but this was not true. as a typesetter in a printing shop, then returned to Philadelphia in 1726 with the help of a merchant who gave him a position as clerk, merchant and accountant in his merchant business. In 1727, at the age of. At age 21, Benjamin created Junto, a group of budding artisans and traders who wanted to better themselves while improving their community. The members of Ju...... middle of paper ......s. He sailed into British waters and fought a great fight against the British. Eventually two proud British ships surrendered and were taken to French waters at American cost. alliance in 1778 and was able to negotiate the Treaty of Paris, which led to the end of the American War of Independence. He remained in Paris until 1785, having accomplished what he had been sent there to do. When Benjamin Franklin returned to America in 1785, his position as champion of American independence was second only to George Washington. He is the only founding father to have signed the four major documents of the founding of the United States; these are the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Paris, the Treaty of Alliance with France and the Constitution of the United States.