BENJAMIN FRANKLIN (1706-1790)

American Statesman, Scientist, and Inventor

It is remarkable that Benjamin Franklin, whose formal education ended when he was ten, should become a world famous scientist and statesman. Apprenticed as a printer at the age of 12, Franklin had the opportunity to read extensively. He taught himself to write by imitating essays in Addison and Steele's periodical, The Spectator. Franklin moved to Philadelphia where he became a very successful printer and publisher. He established a very successful colonial newspaper and began to publish Poor Richard's Almanac, which became a best seller. Also a very effective organizer, Franklin helped establish a library and police force for Philadelphia. He suggested the formation of a group to promote scientific interests throughout the colonies which became the American Philosophical Society. In addition, he helped found an academy which grew into the University of Pennsylvania.

In the 1740's, Franklin began a series of ingenious experiments on electricity, a topic then fashionable in Europe. His studies include the famous experiment in which he blew a kite into a thunder cloud to demonstrate the electrical nature of lightening. He proposed a theory which unified the diverse observations on electricity better than any previous hypothesis. Sir Humphrey Davies said of him that "by very small means [Franklin] established very great truths. . .He rendered his [experiments] amusing as well as perspicuous, elegant as well as simple." Indeed, Franklin invented many of the terms we now use to describe electrical phenomena, such as positive and negative charge, battery, and conductor. Franklin's electrical investigation led him to invent the lightening rod now commonly used to protect buildings and ships from lightening.

Due to Franklin's world wide fame as a scientist, Louis XVI appointed him to investigate the newly discovered phenomenon of hypnotism. At a meeting of the French Academy, he embraced Voltaire.

Franklin was a loyal British subject in 1757, when he was chosen to represent the colonies in London. While in England, he was entertained by the philosopher David Hume and heard concerts of Handel's works. Gradually, Franklin lost faith in the policies of the British government and what he eventually described as "the extreme corruption. . .in this rotten old state." Upon his return to the colonies in 1775, he became part of the committee that drafted the Declaration of Independence.

In 1776, Franklin went to France to get aid for the American colonies in their war against Britain. Virtually all outside aid for the American rebels came through Franklin's help. One of Franklin's last public acts involved helping to draft the American Constitution.