People have never stopped loving the most human and witty of the Founding Fathers. Publisher, inventor, journalist, diplomat, patriot�Benjamin Franklin was all these and more. He left his mark everywhere on the young nation and established a legacy that remains with us today in everything from our most important institutions to our sense of humor.In words and pictures, TIME Benjamin Franklin will trace his full life and tumultuous times, from his beginnings as a printer�s apprentice in Philadelphia to his turns as a best-selling author, a world renowned scientist, a leading fi gure of the American Revolution, a lively (but prudent) ladies� man, a shrewd ambassador to France, and in his final triumph, a framer of the Constitution. Franklin�s energy, his boundless curiosity, his questing mind all made him a favorite figure from the American past who feels in many ways contemporary. Written by Richard Lacayo, TIME Arts & Culture editor, this is the second volume in the TIME Book series documenting the lives of great American historical figures. It is sure to captivate the reader, just as Franklin himself has captured our attention for centuries.