Ben Franklin Photos

Benjamin Franklin (1706-90), born in Boston, spent his early years as a newspaper printer & journalist. He moved to Philadelphia in the 1720s where he ran a newspaper, published Poor Richard's Almanac, & became postmaster. He went on to do experiments on electricity, became a diplomat to England to argue for American rights. In 1775 Franklin returned to Pennsylvania to argue for American independence & participated in its formulation. In 1776 he represented the United States in Paris to obtain a French alliance & support and represented the USA there until 1785. Upon his return he was a delegate to the convention that framed the American Constitution.

Click photo to enlarge.
Statue of Ben Franklin outside of Old City Hall on site of first American Public School which Franklin attended.

Plaque on base of Ben Franklin statue showing a print shop.

Plaque on base of Ben Franklin statue of Franklin flying a kite in thunder storm by R.S. Greenough in 1857.

Plaque on base of Ben Franklin statue of Franklin & the Declaration of Independence.

Plaque on base of Ben Franklin statue of Franklin at Treaty of Peace of September 3, 1783, by T. Ball in 1857.

Printing press (1785), possibly used by Benjamin Franklin, presented to USA by France during its bicentennial celebrations in Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum.

Portrait of Benjamin Franklin (1835) by David Rent Etter, after Charles Wilson Peale after David Martin in National Portrait Gallery.

Benjamin Franklin portrait (1778) by Joseph Siffred Duplessis at Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Statue of Benjamin Franklin (1706-90) erected 1926.

Benjamin Franklin statue detail on Lafayette Square.

Stained glass Benjamin Franklin at printing press in Heinz Chapel.

Relief of impact of printing on base of Statue of Guttenberg showing signing of American Declaration of Independence & distribution of printed copies.

All photos on this page are originals by & copyrighted by Jim Steinhart.
All rights reserved. Permission required to use.