Benjamin Franklin (January 17, 1706 -- April 17, 1790) was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author and printer, satirist, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, inventor, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat. As a scientist, he was a major figure in the American Enlightenment and the history of physics for his discoveries and theories regarding electricity. He invented the lightning rod, bifocals, the Franklin stove, a carriage odometer, and the glass 'armonica'. He formed both the first public lending library in America and the first fire department in Pennsylvania.
Franklin earned the title of "The First American" for his early and indefatigable campaigning for colonial unity; as a writer and spokesman in London for several colonies, then as the first United States Ambassador to France, he exemplified the emerging American nation. Franklin was foundational in defining the American ethos as a marriage of the practical and democratic values of thrift, hard work, education, community spirit, self-governing institutions, and opposition to authoritarianism both political and religious, with the scientific and tolerant values of the Enlightenment. In the words of historian Henry Steele Commager, "In Franklin could be merged the virtues of Puritanism without its defects, the illumination of the Enlightenment without its heat." To Walter Isaacson, this makes Franklin, "the most accomplished American of his age and the most influential in inventing the type of society America would become."
Franklin, always proud of his working class roots, became a successful newspaper editor and printer in Philadelphia, the leading city in the colonies. He became wealthy publishing Poor Richard's Almanack and The Pennsylvania Gazette. Franklin gained international renown as a scientist for his famous experiments in electricity and for his many inventions, especially the lightning rod. He played a major role in establishing the University of Pennsylvania and was elected the first president of the American Philosophical Society. Franklin became a national hero in America when he spearheaded the effort to have Parliament repeal the unpopular Stamp Act. An accomplished diplomat, he was widely admired among the French as American minister to Paris and was a major figure in the development of positive Franco-American relations. For many years he was the British postmaster for the colonies, which enabled him to set up the first national communications network. He was active in community affairs, colonial and state politics, as well as national and international affairs. From 1785 to 1788, he served as governor of Pennsylvania (officially, President of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania). Toward the end of his life, he freed his slaves and became one of the most prominent abolitionists.
His colorful life and legacy of scientific and political achievement, and status as one of America's most influential Founding Fathers, have seen Franklin honored on coinage and money; warships; the names of many towns, counties, educational institutions, namesakes, and companies; and more than two centuries after his death, countless cultural references.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Franklin
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Benjamin Franklin Part 2by MrChrisMcPhail23,324 views
@starmanskye he would have been a tea party supporter
exoticregistry 2 months ago
IMHO, anybody who has studied Benjamin Franklin could not help but conclude he would have been one of the most enthusiastic front-line supporters of the 99% movement Occupy Wall Street. A champion of truth, liberty & justice, he would be outraged at how successive generations of gov. officials were corrupted by a culture of unprincipled avarice, self-indulgence & materialist infatuation. He would have protested the subversion of justice by corporate power & the citizens embrace of servitude.
starmanskye 3 months ago
ya ok im doing a project that is just a little too much that i needed to know:3
CProcker39 4 months ago
@evny27 no he was just very famous
MySofly1 4 months ago
@evny27 i just could not watch the whole video lol
evny27 4 months ago
@evny27 lol
samuriguy909 4 months ago
A miracle of a man
54pog 5 months ago
no he was never a president...but he is on a 100 dollar bill..
ESCALADEEXTonu 5 months ago
pimp.
mommyitsbroken 6 months ago
I am
star21rov 8 months ago