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Franklin Makes a Name for Himself as a Printer

Season 1 Episode 1 | 3m 53s

Franklin, who had only two years of formal education, largely taught himself through reading and on the job. At age 12, he joined his older brother James’s print shop as an apprentice printer. Later, when an essay appeared in James’s newspaper over the name Silence Dogood, no one, including James, knew the real author was 16-year-old Benjamin.

Episodes presented in 4K UHD on supported devices. Corporate funding for BENJAMIN FRANKLIN was provided by Bank of America. Major funding was provided by David M. Rubenstein. Major funding was also provided by The Pew Charitable Trusts, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and by The Better Angels Society and its members Jeannie and Jonathan Lavine; University of Pennsylvania; Gilchrist and Amy Berg; Perry and Donna Golkin; Kissick Family Foundation; Deborah and Jon Dawson; Diane and Hal Brierley; McCloskey Family Charitable Trust; Cappy and Janie McGarr; Lavender Butterfly Fund; and Susan and Charles Shanor Charitable Trust.
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Extras
This bonus scene features Benjamin Franklin House in London, his only surviving residence.
Franklin and Adams have to share a bedroom in a humorous scene not in the final film.
Ken Burns explores the revolutionary life of Benjamin Franklin.
Get an inside look from Ken Burns on the making of Benjamin Franklin.
This extended scene from BENJAMIN FRANKLIN includes bonus material not in the final film.
The Treaty of Paris ended a war, secured Independence and created an Empire.
Late in life, Franklin petitioned Congress to end slavery in the United States.
As impasse threatened the Constitutional Convention, Franklin appealed for Compromise.
Franklin’s musical invention, the armonica, became a sensation in Europe.
Enslaved Philadelphia residents worked in businesses and homes, including Franklin’s.
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