Fun Facts about the Founders Part II

Yesterday I wrote a few fun facts about the Founding Fathers because I love them and can’t get enough of the stories. Today, I’ll write a few more fun things to know about our founders from the book “Lives of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence,” published by Wallbuilders Press, originally printed in 1848.

• William Floyd of New York was a wealthy landowner when the revolution began. Subsequently, the British invaded his home and slaughtered all his animals for food, forcing his entire family to flee to Connecticut. Lewis Morris, also of New York and John Hart of New Jersey suffered a similar fate.
• Richard Stockton was captured and held prisoner. Upon his release through a prisoner exchange, he found himself a beggar.
• At the end of 1779, the U.S. dollar had lost its value by 3/4ths and had to be revalued to a portion of what it had been. The Founders did not like paper money, like many people don’t like our fiat money system today.
• Francis Lewis of New York was fluent in English and Gaelic and was raised by his aunt after becoming an orphan at age 5.
• Tories sided with England and the Whigs were patriots of the colonies.  The name “Whig” is a reference to an obscure band of rebels in Scotland from many years before.  
• Dr. Benjamin Rush, from Pennsylvania, was so popular as a professor of medicine that students traveled from Europe to hear his lectures.  He also tutored more than 50 private students as well. He was also the President of the American Society for the abolition of slavery.
• Because Ben Franklin was “neither mechanic nor farmer,” he because a soap maker and “tallow-chandler,” as his career. He mastered the printing press and began publishing “Poor Richard’s Almanac” in 1732. That publication was printed in the states and abroad and continued in print until 1757.
• Franklin also began an organized fire company, figured out how to pave streets and light them with gas lights. He also invented a stove you might have heard of.
• Franklin was also instrumental in keeping the colonies out of war with England when he spent considerable time there protesting the Stamp Act. When he knew war was inevitable, he came back from England to help the colonies prepare. He was from Pennsylvania.

Just a few more fun facts about the brave men who helped fight for our freedom and frame the beginnings of this blessed country. As you see, many made great sacrifices for this land and many fought against things such as slavery that many today try to hang around the Founders’ necks in condemnation.

Please read more about this book and the numerous amazing works from Wallbuilders and Dr. David Barton at www.wallbuilders.com.  Happy 4^th of July!!