PRINTER'S NO. 8
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
26
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY ISAACSON, YOUNGBLOOD, DONATUCCI, NEILSON,
BIZZARRO, BROWN, BURNS, CALTAGIRONE, CAUSER, CONKLIN,
EVERETT, FREEMAN, HILL-EVANS, KINSEY, KORTZ, LONGIETTI,
MACKENZIE, MENTZER, MILLARD, MURT, PASHINSKI, READSHAW, RYAN,
SAMUELSON, SANCHEZ, SAPPEY, SCHLOSSBERG, SCHMITT, SONNEY,
STAATS, TOEPEL, VITALI AND MARKOSEK, JANUARY 11, 2019
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
JANUARY 11, 2019
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing January 17, 2019, as the birthday of Benjamin
Franklin.
WHEREAS, Benjamin Franklin was born to humble means in 1706
in Boston, Massachusetts, where he would assist his father's
business and apprentice under his brother as a printer; and
WHEREAS, At 17 years of age, Franklin ran away to
Philadelphia where, through an undying self-determination, he
would quickly become the most prominent master printer in the
American colonies, figuratively and literally representing the
phrase "rags to riches"; and
WHEREAS, Driven by a sense of public duty and interest in
improving the human condition, Franklin was instrumental in the
improvement of the lighting and paving of Philadelphia and in
the organization of a police force, fire companies, the
Pennsylvania Hospital and the Library Company of Philadelphia,
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as well as the institution that became the University of
Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, Franklin's wide-ranging work as a philanthropist,
public servant, scholar, scientist and inventor was legendary
and helped to shape the modern world; and
WHEREAS, Franklin's most laudable accomplishments came in the
latter portion of the 18th Century through his work in public
service; and
WHEREAS, During his lifetime, Franklin would serve as Chief
Clerk and Speaker of the Pennsylvania Assembly, Philadelphia
postmaster, a member of the Continental Congress, delegate to
the Constitutional Convention and ambassador to France; and
WHEREAS, Franklin is most memorable for his roles in signing
the American Declaration of Independence, framing the
Constitution of the United States and helping to draft the
Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776; and
WHEREAS, After a long and exceptionally productive life in
politics, science and publishing, Franklin died in 1790 in
Philadelphia, where he was buried at the Christ Church Burial
Ground; and
WHEREAS, A story from the Constitutional Convention of 1787
tells of a woman asking Franklin what form of government the
American colonies would take, to which he reportedly replied, "A
Republic, if you can keep it"; and
WHEREAS, Our challenge as residents of this Commonwealth is
to keep the Republic that Benjamin Franklin helped to establish;
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize January
17, 2019, as the birthday of Benjamin Franklin; and be it
further
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives celebrate the
life and accomplishments of this remarkable human being.
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