Ben Franklin was born on this day in 1706.

Inventor, writer, diplomat, businessman, musician, scientist, humorist, civic leader, international celebrity, genius: all these titles can be used to describe one of the most remarkable people of American history, Ben Franklin. Born into the family of a Boston candle maker, Benjamin Franklin not only helped found a new nation, but he also helped define the American character.

Franklin was an inventor, credited with inventions such as the lighting rod, the Franklin stove, and bifocals. He was also an international statesman, crossing the Atlantic eight times to help negotiate the treaties that led to the formation of the United States.

Franklin was also a publisher and a writer. His most famous publication was Poor Richard’s Almanac, which Franklin first published in 1732 under the pseudonym Richard Saunders. The 26 editions of Poor Richard’s Almanac were filled with calendar, weather, and astronomical information. But what Franklin’s almanac was most well-known for was his collection of humorous sayings and advice, such as “Fish and visitors smell after three days”; “Necessity never made a good bargain”; and “Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.”

Of course, Franklin was not the first to write a collection of witty sayings. Solomon, the wisest man to ever live, passed on his wisdom in the book of Proverbs. Each short, concise statement conveyed a truth for practical living. But the main theme of Solomon’s proverbs was that the source of all true wisdom was God. Centuries before Ben Franklin ever walked the earth, Solomon wrote, “Fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.”

Those are some wise words worth remembering!

Fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Only fools despise wisdom and discipline (Proverbs 1:7).

To Do

Read Proverbs chapter 2. Write down a list of all the benefits of wisdom that you find there.

Also on this day . . .

1806—James Madison Randolph, grandson of President Thomas Jefferson, was the first child born in the White House.

1871—Andrew S. Hallidie of San Francisco, California received a patent for a cable car system.

1962—Jim Carrey was born.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005). Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.