Emphasis Preaching Journal

Benjamin Franklin was perhaps America's first self-made man. Benjamin was born the fifteenth child and tenth son of Josiah Franklin and his second wife, Abiah Folger. Josiah was a soap and candle maker. Benjamin had an early propensity for reading and was sent to school in the hopes that he might become a member of the clergy. But because of the expense of such training, Benjamin was pulled from school. He was apprenticed to his father in the candle and soap shop to keep Benjamin from going to sea.