January 17, 1706-April 17, 1790
Benjamin Franklin was born on Milk Street in Boston, Massachusetts.
He was raised in Boston, Massachusetts
Interesting Facts:
- Benjamin Franklin was the fifteenth child
- Franklin's mother Abiah came from the Folger family. One of their descendants was to later found the Folgers Coffee Company.
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In 1729, Benjamin bought Pennsylvania Gazette, a newspaper that he printed and also contributed writings to. Interestingly, he wrote a political cartoon for the newspaper.
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He could play musical instruments like the guitar, harp and violin. He invented the glass harmonica. He has a few musical compositions to his name.
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It was Benjamin Franklin who conceived the idea of daylight savings.
- Franklin's kite-flying during a storm led to some important theories related to electricity. He gathered electric charge on his kite from lightning thus demonstrating the electrical nature of lightning.
- Some of his other inventions include, lightning rod, Franklin's stove, bifocal glasses and the urinary catheter. He did not like patenting inventions. He thought that his inventions gave him an opportunity to serve the society
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The Harvard and Yale Universities awarded him honorary degrees. In 1762, the Oxford University honored him with a doctorate.
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He was one of the authors of the Declaration of Independence. He became an ambassador to the Court of Louis XVI.