Assess Benjamin Franklin's contributions to science Research Paper

Assess Benjamin Franklin's contributions to science - Research Paper Example Science is one of the most important fields for development. The world before the 18th century has been described as a primitive world, where people depended on manual ways of during things. The contribution of science was not given the attention it deserved. It was until the 18th century that science became an important field of study for the development of Europe and America. This began with Isaac Newton’s discovery of the law of gravity and light. Newton’s discoveries inspired other scientists, including Edward Jenner and Joseph Priestley who later made important scientific discoveries in medicine and chemistry respectively (Fisher 12). In fact, 18th century comes out as the century that several discoveries were made, including steam engine, cotton gin, mercury thermometer, gas lighting, and hot-air balloon just to name but a few. Benjamin Franklin is among the great American scientists of the 18th century whose contributions in science have been of great importance to the world, several years after his death. Life Benjamin Franklin was born on January 17, 1706 Boston, Massachusetts to a poor family comprising of his father, Josiah who happened to be a candle maker and Abiah, his mother. He was the fifteenth child in their family. Franklin was not lucky to have a formal education. He only managed to attend school for two years before being sent home for lack of school fees (Murre 15). However, since his family was too poor to afford the school fees required, Franklin abandoned school and resorted to helping his poor father in candle making. Nonetheless, since he had interest in having good education, he taught himself how to read and write, as well as how to experiment. Since his family could not afford enough money to feed the entire family, Franklin began working as a printer in Boston to boost his family income. Even though he was working as a printer, he still had a lot of interest in education. As such, he kept reading books and periodicals at night after leaving work (Canada par. 3). The more he continued practicing reading and writing, the more he developed good grammar and style of writing. However, when he was about 17 years of age, Franklin resigned from the print shop where he had been working as a printer. This is after he had gained a wealth of experience in typesetting skills. He then left Boston for Philadelphia, where he arrived very hungry and tired (Murre 18). It did not take him long before getting a new job in Samuel Keimer’s printing shop. Here, he demonstrated great skills, which earned him good salary. At age 22, in 1978, he started his print shop in partnership with Meredith. Few years later at the age of 24 year, Franklin met Deborah, whom he fell in love with, married, and were blessed with two children named Sarah and Francis Folger. His printing business became a great success, transforming him from a poor boy to a wealthy businessperson. In fact, his success in printing business made him become the