Benjamin Franklin has appeared on over 130 different U.S. postage stamps, many more worldwide, since the first issue in 1847.

Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston, in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, on January 17, 1706. More precisely, his birthplace was a modest house at 17 Milk Street, directly across from the Old Meeting House.

He lived there for the first six years of his life with his parents, Josiah and Abiah Franklin, and his many siblings—Ben was the 15th of 17 children. Although Franklin later claimed he was born at the corner of Hanover and Union Streets, historical records confirm the Milk Street location.

Benjamin Franklin’s role as Postmaster General was pivotal in shaping the early American postal system, and it started long before the United States even existed.

Colonial Beginnings

In 1737, Franklin was appointed Postmaster of Philadelphia by the British Crown, and by 1753, he became Joint Postmaster General for the colonies, sharing the role with William Hunter.

• He revolutionized mail delivery by:
  • Establishing night and day riders to speed up service
  • Using an odometer to measure postal routes
  • Standardizing postal rates based on distance and weight
  • Ensuring newspapers could be mailed affordably, boosting public access to news

Continental Congress Appointment

In July 1775, the Second Continental Congress appointed Franklin as the first Postmaster General of what would become the United States.

• His responsibilities included:
  • Overseeing all post offices from Falmouth (now Portland, Maine) to Savannah, Georgia
  • Hiring postmasters and establishing new routes
  • Creating a communication network vital to the Revolutionary cause

Legacy and Impact

• Franklin’s system helped unify the colonies by spreading ideas of liberty and independence through letters and newspapers
• He served until November 1776, when he left for France to secure support for the Revolution
• His successor was his son-in-law, Richard Bache

Franklin’s postal innovations laid the groundwork for the modern U.S. Postal Service. He wasn’t just delivering mail—he was delivering a nation’s future.