Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston on 17 January 1706. He attended school only briefly, and then helped his father, who was a candle and soap maker. He was an apprentice of his brother, a printer. As such, he began writing anonymously for his brother's newspaper. Franklin and his brother argued, and in 1723 Franklin ran away to Philadelphia. After 18 months in London, Franklin settled in Philadelphia, making a name for himself as a printer. He bought the 'Pennsylvania Gazette', which he edited and developed into on of American colonies' major newspapers. He also wrote and published 'Poor Richard's Almanack', an astronomy journal.
From 1757 to 1774, Franklin lived in London mostly, where he was the colonial representative for Pennsylvania, Georgia, New Jersey and Massachusetts. His attempted to reconcile the British government with the colonies, but to no avail. When he returned to America, the war of independence had already broken out and he joined the fight. In 1776, he helped to draft, and signed, the Declaration of Independence. His illegitimate son William, royal governor of New Jersey between 1762 and 1776, remained loyal to Britain, seperating them for the rest of Franklin's life.
Later that year, Franklin and two others were selected to represent America in France. Franklin negotiated the Franco-American Alliance which was useful for providing military cooperation between the two countries against Britain and make sure that significant French subsidies were sent to America. In 1783, as American ambassador to France, Franklin signed the Treaty of Paris, ending the American War of Independence. He was extremely popular and well known in France, but in 1785 returned to America. He continued to be deeply involved in politics, helping to draft the Constitution.
Franklin died in Philadelphia on 17 April 1790.