Famous
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Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America. As can be inferred, he was a politician and political theorist, but Franklin’s areas of interest ranged widely. He was a leading author, scientist, inventor, soldier and a statesman too. Franklin’s contributions as a scientist make him a leading figure of the Enlightenment period. Franklin is believed to have set the basis for the American values, which is a blend of the pragmatic values of Puritanism and the scientific values of the Enlightenment. Benjamin Franklin was born on the 17th January 1706 in Boston. Franklin’s father did not have enough money to send him for good education and as a result he attended school only for two years.

Though Franklin attended Boston Latin School, he did not complete the graduation. But nothing would stop Benjamin Franklin from continuing his education through voracious reading. Franklin worked with his father, a candle maker and later with his printer brother. When he was seventeen years of age, Franklin ran away to Philadelphia and initiated the creation of ‘Junto’ a group of artisans and traders. The group under the leadership of Franklin set up a library. Franklin was a gifted writer. In Pennsylvania, Franklin rose to prominence as a printer, editor and merchant. Franklin’s inventions are the ones that made him more famous. Franklin through the making of these small yet useful devices attempted to increase human efficiency and improvements. Among his many inventions are included the lightning rod, bifocal glasses, the flexible urinary catheter, glass armonica and stove.

He is also famous for the variety of experiments he conducted in various fields of science and most importantly, electrical ones. It was the experiments in this direction that finally produced the lightning rod. Franklin was an accomplished musician who knew to play many instruments as well as many styles. He also played chess very well. Franklin set up the Union Fire Company which was one of the first group of firefighters in the United States. He also advocated the use of paper money and actually came up with certain anti-counterfeiting techniques. It was Benjamin Franklin who set up The Academy and College of Philadelphia. Franklin concerned himself with the political affairs of the time more intensely. In 1751, he was elected to the Pennsylvania Assembly. In the capacity of his office, Franklin attempted to reform the postal system. He was also involved among others in the establishment of Pennsylvania Hospital, the first hospital in the United States of America. Franklin also organized the Pennsylvania Militia. Franklin made extensive trips abroad to Europe. In England, Franklin was in touch with most of the Enlightenment scientists of the time.