Written between 1717 and 1790, and originally referred to by its author as simply Memoirs, Benjamin Franklin’s autobiography is considered the pioneering example of the genre. In this influential account of the American Dream in action, Franklin recounts his early life, his inventions, his quest for virtue and self-improvement, and his political achievements. The unfinished work is a vivid depiction of life in early America, as well as a relatable and inspiring portrait of one of its revolutionary thinkers.
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Revised edition: Previously published as The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, this edition of The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin (AmazonClassics Edition) includes editorial revisions.
Born in Boston to Josiah Franklin and Abiah Folger, Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790) was the fifteenth of his father’s seventeen children. An author, inventor, politician, and printer, he is celebrated for his hand in drafting the Declaration of Independence; negotiating the Peace Treaty between the United States and England following the Revolutionary War; and for numerous inventions, including the Franklin stove, bifocals, and the lightning rod. His autobiography, which remained unfinished and was first published posthumously in 1791, is considered the most influential example of the genre ever written.