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Ben Franklin didn't always practice what he preached.
- Benjamin Franklin left behind detailed writings about his typical daily routine.
- His schedule varied over the years - as did his commitment to some of his own popular aphorisms.
- According to his fellow Founding Father John Adams, Franklin didn't always follow his own advice in his later years.
Benjamin Franklin was a true Renaissance man.
After getting his start in the printing business, he went on to establish himself as a leading writer and political thinker in the English colonies in North America; invent the lightning rod, bifocals, and swim fins; make a number of crucial scientific discoveries; and help draft the Declaration of Independence and secure his country's' freedom from England.
The Founding Father got a lot done, so it's no surprise that he earned the unofficial moniker of "First American."
And it's definitely not a shock that he was pretty intentional about his time, according to his autobiography.
Here's a breakdown of what Franklin's days looked like: