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The First American tells the story of his life in The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, the incomplete account of his life and times. Summary of the Book Benjamin Franklin was born to Josiah Franklin and his second wife, Abiah Folger. He was one among ten children. He was brought up in poverty, and this affected his formal education. However, Franklin had a thirst for knowledge. He read widely and consumed volumes of books to feed his thirst for knowledge. He ran from home, heading towards Philadelphia, where he sought a new beginning. His search led him to London, where he became a typesetter in a printer's shop. He returned to Philadelphia to become a clerk, shopkeeper, and bookkeeper. He found fame as a writer and a man of letters. This book, left unfinished, is his personal account of his life. Its state, if anything, should prove that he was man of action, preferring to do things rather than worry about fame. Nevertheless, he found fame and is remembered as the First American and one of the greatest polymaths of all time. About Benjamin Franklin Benjamin Franklin was an American polymath, writer, scholar, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster and inventor. He was also one of the Founding Fathers of the United States and is largely considered to be the “First American”. He is known for inventing the lightning rod, bifocals, the Franklin stove and for his role as a member of the Committee of Five that drafted the Declaration of Independence.