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On January 17, 1706, Founding Father Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston, Massachusetts

January 17, 2025

|Recurring Event (See all)

An event every year that begins at 12:00 am on day 17 of January, repeating indefinitely

On January 17, 1706, Founding Father Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Franklin was instrumental in the formation of the new United States – he played key roles at the Continental Congress, the Constitutional Convention, and as a diplomat to France. 🇫🇷🇺🇸

A man of many talents, he didn’t just distinguish himself in the political sphere, but as writer, editor, inventor, and public servant.

Did you know? Franklin’s philanthropy is still making a difference today. Upon his death in 1790, he left $2,000 each to the cities of Boston (his birthplace) and Philadelphia (his adopted home).

For the first one hundred years after his death, the money was to be placed in a trust and only used for loans to young apprentices in the trades. 🪚 🔨 🔌

In 1890, the cities were then allowed to spend some of the money. Philadelphia used it in part to fund the Franklin Institute and Boston to finance the Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology. The rest was held in trust for another 100 years

In 1990, the cities were given free rein to use all the money as they wished, which by this point had appreciated to a total of $6.5 million dollars. 💰💰💰

Not bad for a 200-year-old gift! 💸💸💸

 

 

Benjamin Franklin, Joseph-Siffred Duplessis, 1778

-Written by Anna Zemaitaitis, Communications and Design Officer

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Date:
January 17, 2025
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