Named "one of the best books of 2006" by The New York Sun
Described by Carl Van Doren as "a harmonious human multitude," Benjamin Franklin was the most famous American of his time, of perhaps any time. His life and careers were so varied and successful that he remains, even today, the epitome of the self-made man. Born into a humble tradesman's family, this adaptable genius rose to become an architect of the world's first democracy, a leading light in Enlightenment science, and a major creator of what has come to be known as the American character. Journalist, musician, politician, scientist, humorist, inventor, civic leader, printer, writer, publisher, businessman, founding father, philosopher, Franklin is a touchstone for America's egalitarianism.

Volume 2 takes Franklin from his marriage in 1730 to his retirement as a printer at the beginning of 1748, examining the mysteries of the illegitimate William Franklin's birth and mother and Franklin's increasing civic activities-starting the Library Company in Philadelphia in 1731, forming Pennsylvania's first volunteer fire company, and becoming an advocate for a clean Philadelphia environment. J. A. Leo Lemay assesses Franklin's numerous writings, attributing to him for the first time a deistic Indian speech, remarking on his use of the second African American persona in journalism, and analyzing his publishing sensation of 1747, The Speech of Miss Polly Baker. These belletristic works are complemented by Franklin's religious, political, and scientific writings, which he produced prodigiously.

List of IllustrationsPrefacePART I. A NEW LIFE, AGE 24 TO 30 (1730-1736)1. Personal and Business Life2. The Art of Virtue3. Freemason4. The Library Company of Philadelphia5. Man of Letters6. Politics, Religion and the Rivalry with Bradford, 17327. Poor Richard's Prefaces, 1733-17478. Poor Richard's Proverbs9. Franklin and Politics, 1730-173610. The Hemphill Controversy11. Assessing Franklin as a Young Man, Age 24 to 30PART II. EXPANDING PERSONAL INTERESTS, AGE 30 THROUGH 41 (1736-1747)12. Personal Life13. The Assembly Clerk and Pennsylvania Politics14. Firefighter15. Earning a Living: Printer, Publisher, Merchant, Bookseller and Postmaster16. Concerned Citizen17. George Whitefield and the Great Awakening18. Natural Philosophy19. Satires and Other Writings, 1736-174720. Assessing Franklin, Age 30 through 41Appendices1. New Attributions2. Franklin's Organizations: Dates and Locations of Meetings, 1727-17473. Pennsylvania Assembly: Pay to Franklin4. Sample Wages and Prices in Colonial PhiladelphiaSources, Documentation, DatesAbbreviated ReferencesNotesIndexAcknowledgments