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Franklin wasn’t only a printer, a publisher, a writer, an inventor, and a scientist. He was also one of this country’s greatest leaders.
In 1736, he was made clerk of the Pennsylvania Assembly, the colony’s governing body. He was elected to Philadelphia’s City Council in 1748. In 1751, he joined the Pennsylvania Assembly as one of the city’s representatives. There, he negotiated a major treaty with Native Americans. Later, he organized the defense of the Pennsylvania frontier. He was also chosen to be colonel of Philadelphia’s militia regiment. In 1754, Ben drew up the first plan to unite the colonies under one government. Although his plan was rejected by the colonial assemblies and by the British crown, it laid the foundation for what was to become the United States of America.
