Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston on January 17, 1706. He was the tenth son of soap maker, Josiah Franklin. Benjamin's mother was Abiah Folger. Benjamin Franklin was in energetic innovator. He owned and operated newspapers and publishing companies. He operated the postal service for colonial America, founded libraries, started the first volunteer fire department, and was an indefatigable inventor. At age forty, Benjamin Franklin retired from business to dedicate himself to both his scientific research and service to the fledgling American government. Benjamin Franklin is unique among the Founders. He is the only person that acted on behalf of the newly founded United States of America and signed all four of the Founding Documents: The Declaration of Independence, the Amity Treaty with France, The Treaty of Paris, and the US Constitution. Franklin died on April 17, 1790 at the age of 84. Over 20,000 people attended his funeral.