ABSTRACT
Benjamin Franklin, born into a large family, expressed a great interest in maximum procreation and close family ties, along with his many other interests. As the fifteenth child of Josiah Franklin, he was also the youngest son. Benjamin was first placed in a grammar school at the age of eight years to prepare him for the ministry. Josiah’s consideration of placing Benjamin in the church, as a tithe of his sons, quite possibly was influenced by his youngest child’s precocity. Some of Franklin’s major activities that are identifiable with his character as learner and as a contributor to the education of others include: the Junto, electrical experimentation, and libraries and community projects. The Junto is possibly the best-known American discussion club of all time, even though other luminaries such as John Locke and Cotton Mather had similar ideas. The membership of the Junto was composed of other tradesmen.
