On This Day in History
December 28, 1732

Ben Franklin publishes first Poor Richard's Almanack

Poor Richard's Almanack

On this day in history, December 28, 1732, Ben Franklin publishes the first Poor Richard's Almanack. Franklin would publish the almanac for the next 25 years, becoming rich and famous in the process. Poor Richard's Almanac contained weather predictions, witty sayings, poems, proverbs, astronomical information, math exercises, epigrams (clever sayings), calendar information, etc.

Franklin's writing in the almanac came off appearing as if it was all his own homespun sayings and advice, but in reality, much of it was copied from other European almanacs and other books. Many of the sayings and puzzles were just borrowed verbatim from these sources. Even the name Richard Saunders, Franklin's persona in the series, was borrowed from a popular London almanac called the Apollo Anglicanus. Saunders eventually came to be known as "Poor Richard" and this was borrowed from another London almanac called "Poor Robin's Almanack."

Poor Richard's was published every year from 1732 to 1758, selling around 10,000 copies a year. It was Franklin's second most successful printing enterprise, after the Pennsylvania Gazette. The almanac was so popular that it was often the only other book in colonial homes beside the Bible. Between the Gazette and Poor Richard's, Franklin earned enough income to retire at the age of 42 in 1748. After retirement, Franklin's partner continued the printing business, while Franklin still provided the material for the almanac.

Portrait of Benjamin Franklin by David Martin, 1767

Franklin's almanac was purchased for a variety of reasons, including the calendar, astronomical observations and weather predictions, but it became known most of all for Franklin's proverbs, aphorisms and plays on words. Many of these sayings have come down to us today and are part of everyday life, including such sayings as, "Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise;" "God helps them that help themselves;" "Well done is better than well said;" "Search others for their virtues, thy self for thy vices;" and "He that sows thorns, should not go barefoot."

A few other sayings from the almanac include, "To err is human, to repent divine, to persist devilish;" "Many have quarrel'd about Religion, that never practis'd it;" "No man e'er was glorious, who was not laborious;" "He that cannot obey, cannot command;" "By diligence and patience, the mouse bit in two the cable;" "Nothing but money, Is Sweeter than Honey;" and "It is better to take many Injuries than to give one."

This Week in History

• December 28, 1732 - Ben Franklin publishes first Poor Richard's Almanack
• December 29, 1778 - Savannah, Georgia is captured by the British army
• December 30, 1803 - Declaration of Independence signer Francis Lewis dies
• December 31, 1775 - The Americans are defeated at the Battle of Quebec
• January 1, 1752 - Betsy Ross is born
• January 2, 1777 - The Americans win the Battle of Assunpink Creek
• January 3, 1777 - American victory at the Battle of Princeton

This book is as exact a reproduction of this wonderful little book     published in 1895 as we could produce.  You will find words spelled and hyphenated the way they are in the original. 

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