All language subtitles for Benjamin Franklin’s Incredible Life Story Explained Simply _ English Listening Practice ✅

Hello, my friends. Welcome back.

I hope you are having a peaceful day.

Today, I want to tell you about a man
who lived more than 200 years ago.

He was a writer, a scientist, and a
leader.

But he started his life as a poor boy
who loved to read.

This man helped create a new country.

He discovered secrets about lightning
and electricity.

His name...

Benjamin Franklin was

born

on January 17,

1706, in Boston, Massachusetts.

Boston was a city by the ocean in
America.

At that time, America was not a free
country yet. It belonged to England.

Benjamin's father was named Josiah
Franklin.

His mother was named Abiah.

Benjamin had many brothers and sisters.

He was the fifteenth child in his
family.

Can you imagine?

Fifteen children in one house.

The Franklin family was not rich.

Josiah made soap and candles to sell.

It was hard work and the family did not
have much money.

Benjamin was a smart boy.

He loved to read more than anything
else.

But his family could not pay for school
for many years.

Benjamin went to school for only two
years.

He was eight years old when he stopped
going to school.

His father needed him to work.

This made Benjamin sad because he loved
learning.

But Benjamin did not stop reading.

He read every book he could find.

He borrowed books from friends.

He stayed up late at night reading by
candlelight.

Books became his teachers.

Books opened his mind to the world.

When Benjamin was twelve years old, his
father sent him to work with his older

brother, James.

James had a printing shop.

A printing shop makes newspapers and
books.

Benjamin learned how to use the big
printing machines.

He learned how to put letters together
to make words on paper.

The work was hard.

Sometimes James was not kind to
Benjamin.

But Benjamin was happy because he was
close to books and words every day.

He could read the newspapers and
pamphlets that came through the shop.

He learned about ideas and news from
many places.

Benjamin worked for his brother for
several years, but James and Benjamin

not get along well.

James was the boss, and sometimes he
treated Benjamin badly.

Benjamin wanted freedom.

He wanted to learn more.

He wanted to become his own person.

So when he was 17 years old, Benjamin
made a big decision.

He decided to run away.

Running away was dangerous.

It was against the law to leave your
work contract.

But Benjamin was brave.

He sold some of his books to get money.

Then he left Boston secretly.

Benjamin traveled to New York City
first.

He looked for work there, but he could
not find any.

So he decided to go to Philadelphia.

Philadelphia was another city far away
from Boston.

The journey was long and difficult.

Benjamin walked many miles.

He had very little money. He was hungry
and tired.

When he finally arrived in Philadelphia,
he had almost nothing.

His clothes were dirty.

He was exhausted.

but he did not give up.

On his first morning in Philadelphia,
Benjamin bought three big rolls of

He had only a little money left.

He walked through the streets eating one
roll.

He carried the other two rolls under his
arms.

He must have looked very funny.

A young woman saw him and laughed.

Benjamin did not know it then, But this
young woman would later become his wife.

Her name was Deborah Reed.

This was the beginning of Benjamin's new
life.

Benjamin found work at a printing shop
in Philadelphia.

He worked very hard.

He was skilled and smart.

People noticed his good work.

The governor of Pennsylvania heard about
Benjamin.

The governor told Benjamin he should
open his own printing shop.

He promised to help Benjamin.

Benjamin was excited.

He was only 18 years old, but he had big
dreams.

The governor said Benjamin should go to
London to buy printing equipment.

London was the big city in England.

So Benjamin got on a ship and sailed
across the ocean.

But when Benjamin arrived in London,
something terrible happened.

The governor had lied.

The governor did not send the money he
promised.

Benjamin was alone in London, with no
money and no help.

This was a hard lesson for young
Benjamin.

He learned that not everyone keeps their
promises.

He learned to be careful and to trust
his own judgment.

But Benjamin did not feel sorry for
himself.

Instead, he found work at printing shops
in London.

He stayed there for almost two years.

He learned new skills.

He read many books.

He made friends with other thinkers and
writers.

In 1726, Benjamin returned to
Philadelphia.

He was older now and wiser.

He worked hard and saved his money.

By 1728, when he was only 22 years old,
Benjamin opened his own printing shop.

He printed newspapers, books, and
pamphlets.

His business grew slowly, but steadily.

In 1730, Benjamin married Deborah Reed,
the same young woman who had laughed at

him on his first day in Philadelphia.

They built a life together.

They had children.

Benjamin's printing business became very
successful.

Benjamin started his own newspaper
called the Pennsylvania Gazette. It

one of the most popular newspapers in
America.

Benjamin was a good writer. He wrote
articles that were interesting and easy

read. People loved his newspaper.

Benjamin also created something called
Poor Richard's Almanac.

An Almanac is a book that comes out
every year.

It has calendars, weather predictions,
and advice.

Benjamin filled his almanac with wise
sayings and jokes.

Some famous sayings from poor Richard
include, Early to bed and early to rise

makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.

And, A penny saved is a penny earned.

These simple ideas helped people think
about how to live better lives.

But Benjamin Franklin was not just a
printer and writer.

He was also very interested in science.

He was curious about everything in the
world.

He asked questions.

He did experiments.

One of his most famous experiments was
about lightning.

In the 1750s, People did not understand
lightning.

They did not know what it was.

Benjamin Franklin had an idea.

He thought lightning might be
electricity.

Electricity was something new that
scientists were just beginning to study.

In 1752, Benjamin did a dangerous
experiment.

He flew a kite during a thunderstorm.

When lightning came near, electricity
traveled down the wet string to the key.

Benjamin felt the electric shock.

He proved that lightning is electricity.

This was an amazing discovery.

It was also very dangerous.

Benjamin could have died.

But his experiment changed science
forever.

People around the world heard about
Benjamin Franklin's discovery.

He became famous as a scientist.

Benjamin used his knowledge about
electricity to invent something useful.

He invented the lightning rod.

A lightning rod is a metal rod that you
put on top of a building.

When lightning strikes, it hits the rod
instead of the building.

The electricity goes safely into the
ground.

This invention saved many buildings from
burning down.

Benjamin did not patent his invention.

That means he did not make money from
it.

He wanted everyone to use it freely.

He believed knowledge should help all
people.

Benjamin Franklin invented many other
things, too.

He invented bifocal glasses.

These are glasses that help you see both
near and far.

He invented the Franklin stove, which
heated homes better than fireplaces.

He invented swim fins to help people
swim faster.

He was always thinking, always creating,
always trying to make life better.

And he shared his ideas freely with the
world.

Benjamin also cared deeply about his
community.

He believed people should work together
to make their city better.

In Philadelphia, he helped start the
first public library in America.

Before this, only rich people could own
books.

Now everyone could borrow books and read
them.

Benjamin also helped start the first
fire department in Philadelphia.

He helped start a hospital.

He helped start a school.

that later became the University of
Pennsylvania.

All of these things made Philadelphia a
better place to live.

As Benjamin grew older, he became
involved in politics.

Politics means the way a country is
governed and led.

Remember, America was still ruled by
England at this time.

But many Americans were not happy about
this.

England made laws that Americans did not
like.

England made Americans pay high taxes.

Americans had no voice in the English
government.

This did not seem fair.

Benjamin Franklin began to speak up for
American rights.

In the 1760s and 1770s the relationship
between America and England

got worse.

England kept making stricter rules.

Americans became angrier.

Some Americans wanted to break free from
England completely.

They wanted independence.

Benjamin Franklin was sent to England as
a diplomat.

A diplomat is someone who represents
their country in another country.

He tried to explain American feelings to
the English government, but the English

leaders would not listen.

Finally, in 1775, Benjamin Franklin
returned to America.

He was almost 70 years old.

Most people that age would rest and stay
home.

But not Benjamin Franklin.

He believed in the American cause.

He believed Americans should be free.

So he joined the fight for independence.

In 1776, Benjamin Franklin helped write
the Declaration of Independence.

This was the document that said America
was no longer part of England.

It said America was a free and
independent country.

Benjamin Franklin signed his name on
this historic document.

He risked his life by doing this.

If America lost the war, he could be
killed for treason.

America needed help to win the war
against England.

So Benjamin Franklin went to France.

France was a powerful country in Europe.

Benjamin asked France to help America.

This was not easy.

Benjamin was now over 70 years old, but
he sailed across the ocean again.

He lived in France for many years.

He talked to French leaders.

He explained why America deserved
freedom.

The French people loved Benjamin
Franklin.

They thought he was wise and charming.

They admired his scientific work.

They loved his simple, honest manner.

Finally, France agreed to help America.

French ships, soldiers, and money came
to support the American cause.

This help was very important.

It helped America win the war.

In 1783, the war ended.

America was officially independent.

Benjamin Franklin helped write the peace
treaty with England.

He was one of the signers.

After nine years in France, Benjamin
returned home to Philadelphia.

He was now 79 years old. Even in his
final years, Benjamin Franklin

continued to serve his country.

He helped write the United States
Constitution.

The Constitution is the main set of laws
for America.

It explains how the government should
work. It protects people's rights.

Benjamin was the oldest person at the
Constitutional Convention.

He was 81 years old.

Many younger men respected his wisdom
and experience.

They listened to his advice.

Benjamin helped create a government that
would last for centuries.

Benjamin Franklin died on April 17,
1790.

He was 84 years old.

He died peacefully in his home in
Philadelphia.

Thousands of people came to his funeral.

They wanted to honor this great man.

People in France mourned.

People around the world mourned.

Benjamin Franklin had touched so many
lives.

He had helped birth a nation.

He had advanced science.

He had improved his community.

He had shown the world what one curious,
hard -working person could achieve.

What can we learn from Benjamin
Franklin's life?

First, we learned that education is not
just about school.

Benjamin went to school for only two
years, but he never stopped learning.

He read books all his life.

He asked questions.

He experimented.

He talked to smart people.

He taught himself through curiosity and
hard work.

This shows us that we can always learn.

no matter our circumstances.

Second, Benjamin Franklin showed us the
power of practical wisdom.

He did not just think about ideas.

He used his ideas to help people.

He invented things that made life
better.

He started organizations that served the
community.

He believed knowledge should be useful.

and should be shared.

He never kept his inventions secret to
make money.

He wanted everyone to benefit.

Third, Benjamin Franklin taught us about
service to others.

He spent decades serving his community
and his country.

Even when he was old and tired, he
continued to work for the greater good.

He could have retired and rested, but he
believed in causes bigger than himself.

He sacrificed his comfort for freedom
and progress.

Fourth, Benjamin Franklin showed us that
one person can make a difference.

He came from a poor family.

He had little formal education.

But he changed the world.

He helped create a nation.

He advanced human knowledge.

He improved countless lives.

He proved that your beginning does not
determine your ending.

Your choices, your effort, and your
character matter most.

And so, my friends, this is the story of
Benjamin Franklin.

A boy who loved books became a man who
changed the world.

He was a printer, a writer, a scientist,
an inventor,

a diplomat, and a founding father.

He lived a life of curiosity, service,
and wisdom.

His ideas still influence us today.

When we use electricity safely we can
thank Benjamin Franklin.

When we borrow books from libraries we
can thank Benjamin Franklin.

When we read wise sayings about working
hard and being honest we often

hear Benjamin Franklin's voice.

More than 200 years have passed since
Benjamin Franklin died but his legacy

lives on.

He reminds us to stay curious, to work
hard, to help

others, and to believe in ourselves.

He shows us that great achievements come
from small, daily choices.

Reading one book at a time, asking one
question at a time,

helping one person at a time.

doing one good deed at a time.

This is how Benjamin Franklin built an
extraordinary life.

I hope you enjoyed this journey through
Benjamin Franklin's life.

I hope his story inspires you to learn,
to question, and to make

a difference in your own way.

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Thank you for listening today, my
friends.

Thank you for spending this time with
me.

Remember every great person started with
small steps just

like Benjamin Franklin.