It is well known that Franklin prepared so much of the celebrated Memoirs of his life as was originally intended for publication, mainly at the solitation of one of his most cherished friends in France. Towards the close of the year 1789 he presented to this gentleman a copy of all this sketch that was then finished. Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, inventor, civic activist, statesman and diplomat. He was one of the Founding Fathers of the U.S.