Part Benjamin Franklin Important Made People One's Life

Benjamin Franklin was one of the "Founding Fathers" (one of the men who made an important contribution to the country's creation) of the United States. He made many important contributions to history, politics, science, and more. He made important "discoveries" (something learned for the first time) about electricity, invented "bifocals" (glasses where the top part helps people see far away and the bottom part helps people read), created the country's first public library, and more.

Many historians have written biographies of Benjamin Franklin, but he wrote his own four-part "autobiography" (a book written about one's own life) between 1771 and 1790. The first part is "addressed to" (written for; intended for) his son and is about his childhood and early life. The second part talks about his plans to create a library and lists the "virtues" (desirable behaviors, like honesty and cleanliness) that he wants to "perfect" (to make as good as possible) in his own life. The third part talks about his views on religion, his study of languages, some of his inventions, "theories" (ideas about how something works), and his "thoughts" (opinions) on current events. The fourth part describes his "role" (what he did) in U.S./British relations, but it ends "abruptly" (quickly), "presumably" (one assumes) because he "passed away" (died) before he could finish it.

Many different versions of The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin have been published over time. Most people admire it for its importance in "recording" (documenting) events in early American history and for being an important piece of American "literature" (written books, novels, and poems). Readers admire Benjamin Franklin for being so "humble" (modest) and "down-to-earth," willing to admit his own mistakes and "shortcomings" (things one does not do well), "despite" (even though he had) his fame.