Poor Richard’s Almanack contained the calendar, weather, poems, sayings and astronomical and astrological information that a typical almanac of the period would contain. It was a best seller for a pamphlet published in the American colonies. Poor Richard’s Almanack was also popular for its extensive use of wordplay, and some of the witty phrases coined in the work survive in the contemporary American vernacular.

Poor Richard’s Almanack (sometimes Almanac) was a yearly almanac published by Benjamin Franklin. It is chiefly remembered, however, for being a repository of Franklin’s aphorisms and proverbs, many of which live on in American English. These maxims typically counsel thrift and courtesy, with a dash of cynicism.

Benjamin Franklin (January 17, 1706-April 17, 1790) was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States and in many ways was “the First American”. A renowned polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, inventor, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat. He facilitated many civic organizations, including Philadelphia’s fire department and a university.