【正文】 imitate the library, until r e a d i n g b e c a m e f a s h i o n a b l e . Benjamin Franklin Inventor At the age of fortytwo, Benjamin Franklin retired from printing to explore his other interests. He devoted this time to inventing. Also， he enjoyed experimenting， of which the most fascinating one is electricity. The story of Benjamin’s kite and electricity, and his lightening rod. Benjamin Franklin Statesman During the fight for independence, he was sent to Europe to represent the colonies. In 1776, he signed the Declaration of Independence and, in 1778, the Treaty of Alliance with France. When the colonists won their independence in 1781, Franklin helped negotiate the peace with England and signed what ultimately became known as Treaty of Peace with Great Britain (1782). ? His works ? (1) Poor Richard’s Almanac ? (2) Autobiography Term:Almanacs a popular form of practical literature containing much useful information for farmers and sailors. Features: ? practical and useful ? interesting by creating the character “Poor Richard” ? continuation of simple but realistic story about Richard, his wife and family ? including many “sayings” about saving money and working hard Poor Richard’s Almanac Some of these are known to most Americans today: ? God helps them who help themselves. ? Early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise. ? One today is worth two tomorrow ? Diligence is the mother of good luck. Autobiography The capstone of Franklin’s achievement as a writer is his Autobiography. contribution (1) He helped found the Pennsylvania Hospital and the American Philosophical Society. (2) He was called “the new Prometheus who had stolen fire (electricity in this case) from heaven”. (3) Everything seems to meet in this one man – “Jack of all trades”. Herman Melville thus described him “master of each and mastered by none”. a pamphleteer, a fighter for independence and human rights “These are the times that try men39。s most enduring monument. In exalted and unfettable phrases, Jefferson expressed the convictions in the minds and hearts of the American people and set forth a list of grievances against the King in order to justify before the world the breaking of ties between the colonies and the mother country. Philip Freneau (17521832) the earliest of American poets, who inspired American imagination. Philip Freneau left a body of poetic work important for its formative influence upon his immediate succ