Poor Richards Almanac

 By Bruce Shawkey

Poor Richard's Almanack (sometimes spelled Almanac) was a yearly almanac published by Benjamin Franklin, who adopted the pseudonym of "Poor Richard." The publication appeared continually from 1732 to 1758. It sold exceptionally well for a pamphlet published in the Thirteen Colonies; print runs reached 10,000 per year.

Franklin, the American inventor, statesman, and accomplished publisher and printer, achieved success with Poor Richard's Almanack. Almanacks were very popular books in colonial America, offering a mixture of seasonal weather forecasts, practical household hints, puzzles, and other amusements.

Found this 1914 edition of the 1739 almanac in the archives of a California library. It was not unusual to find Franklin's almanacs reprinted for novelty purposes. The 62 page booklet begins with a biography of Franklin's extraordinary life. Here is a snippet:

After an absence from America of nine years, Franklin returned to a royal reception. Although 77 years old now, he still gave his country the best that was in him, until his death on April 17, 1790 at age 84 At his burial 20,000 persons gathered to do him respect and honor. 

Eighty-four years old was ancient at a time when the average life expectancy for a male was 57 years. Next is a collections of Franklin's various aphorisms, for which he is knows. One states: "God heals and the doctor takes the fees." There are 670 "nuggets of wisdom" in all.

A few of my favorites:

Three persons may keep a secret if two of them are dead.

Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.

Don't throw stones at your neighbors if your own windows are glass.

If a man could have half his wishes, he would double his troubles.

Editions of the Almanack contained the calendar, weather, poems, sayings and astronomical and astrological information that a typical almanac of the period would contain. Franklin also included the occasional mathematical exercise, and the Almanack from 1750 features an early example of demographics. It is chiefly remembered, however, for being a repository of Franklin's aphorisms and proverbs, many of which live on in American English. These maxims typically counsel thrift and courtesy, with a dash of cynicism.

Franklin remains one of my favorite founding fathers. I quite enjoyed Walter Isaacson's bio of him.

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