The final act is tragicomic. At 81, the last living signer of the Declaration, Franklin helped craft the Constitution. Crippled by gout and a bladder stone, he was carried to the Constitutional Convention in a sedan chair. When others despaired, he rose on his stick and said: “I confess that I do not entirely approve of this Constitution at present… but I am not sure I shall never approve it. I agree to this Constitution with all its faults.” He asked that every day’s session open with a prayer—not from piety (he was a deist who believed Jesus’s morality superior to his divinity) but from political necessity.
, seeking the greatest good for the greatest number through compromise and community action. The New York Times BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, An American Life by Walter Isaacson The final act is tragicomic
Isaacson’s biography explores how Franklin helped define the American national character through his roles as a scientist, inventor, diplomat, and writer. Key areas covered include: When others despaired, he rose on his stick
formats (like EPUB or Kindle) that are optimized for reading and compatible with standard apps. Verified Digital Retailers The New York Times BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, An American