Essay - Benjamin Franklin is One of the Most Widely Known and...

Benjamin Franklin is one of the most widely known and respected American historical figures. He is most recognized for h***** presence at the signing of the Declar*****ion of Independence and his role as an inventor, printer, *****d publisher. However, fewer people realize his significant contributions in creat*****g and shaping ***** institutions such as libraries, hospitals, insurance companies and fire departments, just to name a few ***** Fr*****nklin's civic achievements.

***** the 1730s, only the very wealthy and the clergy had access to a large number of books. Franklin along with a group of members from a philosophic*****l association interested in economic, social and political issues named the Junto drew up Articles of Agreement to form out nation's first library ***** 1731. A group of fifty subscribers each invested forty shilling to start the Library Company and contributed an additional ten *****s every year to buy additional books. Fr*****klin played a role in the Company's operations, tak*****g on the roles ***** Company Librarian ***** Company Secretary for a brief time. Early books covered a wide range of topics ***** as religion, education, politics, philosophy and business. Members could borrow books freely and non-members could also borrow books if *****y put up something ***** value that could be sold if the book was not returned.

Franklin and Bond founded the Pennsylvania Hospital in 1751 to care for the sick, poor and insane of Philadelphia. Civic leaders such as Franklin wanted to address the increasing number of the poor who were suffering from physical illness and the ***** numbers of people ***** all classes who were suffering from mental illness. Bond and Benjamin Franklin were friends and Bond was a member of Franklin's ***** Company. Bond conceived ***** idea of the hospital and Franklin became a subscriber and a backer. He organized a petition for the hospit*****l and presented it to the Pennsylvania Assembly on January 20, 1751. The hospital bill met ***** resistance and Franklin proposed ***** ***** the could raise 2000 pounds from private citizens that the Assembly would match *****se donations. ***** fundraising efforts ***** a success ***** the hospital bill ***** signed into law on May 11, 1751. Franklin later stated: "I do not re***** any of my ***** manoeuvres, the success of which gave me at ***** time more pleasure..."

***** ***** that Philadelphia should have fire-fighting clubs similar to those in Boston. He organized the Union Fire Company in 1736. Its members pledge to help one ano*****r if fire should break***** by putt*****g out the fire, saving goods within ***** building and protecting the ***** ***** looters. Union ***** Company members were only required to protect the properties ***** other *****. ***** original twenty-five members ***** met once a month ***** discuss fire-fighting techniques *****nd company policies. Soon other fire companies and clubs were formed and provided protection for most of the city.

In 1751, Franklin and the Union Fire company met with the *****'s ***** fire ***** to discuss a ***** insurance company. As a result,