Today in Johnson City History, Saturday January 17, 2026

Benjamin Franklin, The Comet has lots of news and a great way to "Get Involved!"

Sunday, January 17, 1706: On this day, Benjamin Franklin was born. “’Elder statesman of the American Revolution,’ oldest signer of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, scientist, diplomat, author, printer, philosopher, philanthropist and self-made, self-educated man. Author, printer and publisher of Poor Richard’s Almanack. Born at Boston, Massachusetts, Franklin died at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on April 17, 1790. His birthday is commemorated each year by the Poor Richard Club of Philadelphia with graveside observance. In 1728 Franklin wrote a premature epitaph for himself. It first appeared in print in Ames’s 1771 almanac: ‘The Body of BENJAMIE FRANKLIN/Printer/Like a Covering of an old Book’ Its contents torn out/ And stript of its Lettering and Gilding/Lies here. Food for Worms/But the work shall not be lost./It will (as he believ’d) appear once more/In a New and more beautiful Edition/Corrected and amended/By the Author.’” (Source: Chase’s 2026 Calendar of Events.)