The Little Known Story Of Ben Franklin’s Youth
He wasn’t always old
When people think of Ben Franklin, they often think of the older statesman. But Ben wasn’t always old. Here is the little-known story of his youth.
Benjamin Franklin’s older brother, James, started the third newspaper in Boston in 1721. It was called The Courant. Benjamin, who was 15 at the time, apprenticed under him.
James soon grew to resent Ben because he got a lot of attention for writing essays in his newspaper, posing as an old woman. So James began beating Ben.
Ben didn’t appreciate being beaten, so he ran away—which was illegal at the time (beating was fine.)
To disguise himself for the getaway, Ben invented the mullet haircut and bi-focal glasses.
He fled to New York, thinking if he could make it there, he could make it anywhere. He failed.
Ben eventually ended up in Philadelphia, living with the Read family. One of the Read daughters, Deborah, pursued Ben for marriage. Ben considered himself too young for marriage and went to London to buy fonts and printing equipment instead. But the chap who was supposed to pay for the supplies never sent the letter of credit. Ben was stranded. He went to work in a print shop and learned the trade of printing.
