BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

Franklin, Benjamin (1706-1790) — of Pennsylvania. Born in Boston, Suffolk County, Mass., January 17, 1706. Uncle of Franklin Davenport; grandfather-in-law of Robert John Walker. Delegate to Continental Congress from Pennsylvania, 1775; signer, Declaration of Independence, 1776; delegate to Pennsylvania state constitutional convention, 1776; U.S. Minister to France, 1778-85; President of Pennsylvania, 1785; member, U.S. Constitutional Convention, 1787. Member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences; American Philosophical Society; Freemasons. Famed for his experiments with electricity; invented bifocal glasses and the harmonica. Elected to the Hall of Fame for Great Americans in 1900. His portrait appears on the U.S. $100 bill; from 1948 to 1963, his portrait also appeared on the U.S. half dollar (50 cent coin). Died in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pa., April 17, 1790. Interment at Christ Church Burial Ground, Philadelphia, Pa. Franklin counties in Ala., Ark., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kan., Ky., La., Maine, Mass., Miss., Mo., Neb., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Pa., Tenn., Vt., Va. and Wash. are named for him.
Parents: Josiah Franklin, Abiah Folger
Spouse: Deborah Read
Born: 1706 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Marriage Date: 1730
Children
William Franklin 1731–1813
Francis F Franklin 1732–1736
Sarah Franklin 1743–1808

Sources:
Vital Records
Family Collections LDS
The Political Graveyard
Submitted by Deborah Crowell