Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston on January 17, 1706. He was raised by his parents Josiah and Abiah Franklin. Despite only having 9 years of formal learning, Benjamin read the works of Plutarch, Defoe and Cotton Mather. At the age of 12, he was an apprentice to his brother James, a printer. In 1723, he took over the publishing of the Courant after his brother was jailed due to "contempt" charges. Despite publishing several works he remained a printer at heart. In 1730, he was elected the official printer of Pennsylvania. In 1787, he signed the United States Constitution. On April 17, 1790, he died at the age of 84.