The BHS Book-of-the-Month for June is Ben Franklin by Walter Isaacson.

Ben Franklin was the first great American—a printer by trade; he was a scientist, a community organizer, a philosopher, and a diplomat. His transformation from loyal servant of the crown to pillar of republican reform helps us understand the transition from colony to independent republic.

Our earlier readings described our European seeds and our founding documents. We now turn to the men and women who created this American Dream from this fabric of history.  We start with Franklin.

From printer’s apprentice to printer, literally from rags to riches; from inventor to one of the wealthiest men in America; from deputy postmaster to international diplomat; Franklin was a self-made man and folk hero. Like Ethan Allen and George Washington after him, he carefully crafted the self-image we identify with today. 

Franklin’s political contributions to the United States were substantial. He helped in the writing of the Declaration of Independence, and assisted on the drafting of the Articles of Confederation (America’s first national constitution). He was the eldest member of the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that wrote the Constitution of the United States of America.

As the diplomatic representative of the new  republic during the Revolution, he secured both the diplomatic recognition and the financial and military aid from the French government of Louis XVI.  Still later, Franklin was an influential member of the commission that negotiated the treaty under which Great Britain recognized the 13 colonies as a sovereign nation.

If you prefer, read whatever biography of Ben Franklin that you choose.  The key is to think about what it took for him to achieve all that he did.  What challenges did he overcome?  His successes helped create the American dream!