Described as "a harmonious human multitude," Ben Franklin's 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-a genius in all fields and a bit of a magician in some.
Volume 3 begins in the year 1748, when Franklin was known in Pennsylvania as clerk of the Pennsylvania Assembly and in the Middle Colonies as the printer and editor of Poor Richard's Almanac and the Pennsylvania Gazette, the best-known colonial publications. By the middle of 1757, where this volume leaves off, he had become famous in Pennsylvania as a public-spirited citizen and soldier in the conflicts of the Seven Years' War; well known throughout America as a writer, politician, and the most important theorist and patriot of the American empire; and renowned in the western world as a natural philosopher. This volume tells the story of that transformation.

List of IllustrationsPreface1. The Association, 1747-17482. Electricity3. Astronomy, Weather, and the Northwest Passage: Natural Philosopher, 1748-17574. Clerk, Councilman, and Magistrate, 1748-17515. The Academy and College of Philadelphia6. Colonial Union, Dumping Felons in America, and Assemblyman, 17517. The Fundamental Document of the American Revolution, 17518. The Pennsylvania Hospital9. Franklin's First Full Assembly, the Money Bill, and Susanna Wright, 1751-175210. Insurance: The Philadelphia Contributionship11. Paper Currency, the Coming of War, and a Trip to New England, 1752-175312. The Carlisle Treaty, Postmaster General, a Trip to New England, and Assembly Sessions, 1753-175413. The Pennsylvania Germans14. Assembly Sessions, the Snake Cartoon, and the Albany Conference, 175415. Boston, America and the Empire, and Katy Ray, 1754-175516. Libels on the Assembly, Quincy's Mission, and General Braddock, 175517. Assembly Crises, Crown Point, Parables, and Glimpses of Deborah, 175518. The French and Indians Attack and Pennsylvania Responds, 175519. General Franklin on the Frontier, 1755-175620. Rival Militias, Colonel Franklin, to Virginia, to New York, and Frontier Fighting, 175621. Military Tour to Carlisle, Harris's Ferry, and New York; Assembly Sessions and Easton Treaty, 1756-175722. Franklin in New York and at Sea, 175723. Assessing Franklin, Age 42 through 51Appendices1. New Attributions2. Franklin's Residences and Real Estate to 17573. Electrical Terminology4. The Influence of Benjamin Franklin's "Observations Concerning the Increase of Mankind" (1751) on Ezra Stiles, Richard Price, and Adam Smith; Thomas Malthus; Alfred Russel Wallace and Charles Darwin5. Franklin's Plan of Union and the Albany Plan6. Franklin's Saying: "Essential Liberty . . . Temporary Safety"7. Post Office Expansion, 1753-17578. Franklin's Wealth, 17569. The Americanization of Benjamin FranklinList of AbbreviationsNotesIndex