BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
Short summary:
Clark Ronald W. Benjamin Franklin: A Biography. New York NY: Random House. 1983. 530 pp. Franklin Benjamin. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. ...
Long summary:
BENJAMIN FRANKLINPage 1BENJAMIN FRANKLINPostmaster General July 26 1775 to November 1776Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston Massachusetts on January 17 1706 (new calendar) and left school at age 10 to work in his father's candle shop. In 1718 the 12yearold Franklin apprenticed to his brother James a printer who started the Boston newspaper the New England Courant in 1721. Young Benjamin read voraciously contributed anonymous articles to his brother's newspaper and even managed the paper for a time when his brother was imprisoned for a political offense. However fraternal relations deteriorated and at age 17 Ben ran away. He ended up in Philadelphia with little money and slim prospects but quickly found work as a printer. By 1728 he had his own print shop and shortly thereafter purchased The Pennsylvania Gazette. In 1732 he first published Poor Richard's Almanack which was wildly successful and secured his fortune. Postal Career under Great Britain Franklins postal career began in 1737 when the British Crown Post appointed him Postmaster of Philadelphia. In Franklins day newspaper printers often served as Postmasters which helped them to gather and distribute news. More important Postmasters decided which newspapers could travel free in the mail or if they could travel by mail at all. Philadelphia's previous Postmaster who printed a rival newspaper had barred Franklins Gazette from the mails. Postmaster General Elliott Benger (17431753) added to Franklin's duties by making him comptroller with financial oversight over neighboring Post Offices. When Benger's health failed Franklin lobbied the British for the job of Postmaster General of America. On August 10 1753 he and William Hunter of Virginia became joint Postmasters General for the Crown. As joint Postmaster General Franklin surveyed post roads and Post Offices introduced a simple accounting method for Postmasters and had riders carry mail by night as well as day speeding service. He encouraged Post ...
Source: www.usps.com
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