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• Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He was a leading author, political theorist, politician, printer, scientist, inventor, civic activist, diplomat and one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

  University of California, San Diego science professor Alan Houston discovered 47 letters from, to and about Benjamin Franklin while doing research at a library in London. Out of the 47 previously undiscovered letters, 18 were written by Franklin himself and detail his interactions with General Edward Braddock and his planned assault on Fort Duquesne.UPI: Benjamin Franklin letters found in London (April 24, 2009)

• Fast Facts

  1. Born: January 17, 1706 in Boston, Massachusetts
  2. Spouse: Deborah Read
  3. Notable Position Held: U.S. Ambassador to Sweden (1782-1783), U.S. Ambassador to France (1778-1785)
  4. Author of Poor Richard's Almanac
  5. Founder of the American Philosophical Society
  6. Inventor of the Bifocals, the Franklin stove and the Glass Armonica
  7. Helped draft of the Declaration of Independence
  8. Signer of the Constitution of the United States of America
  9. In his waning years, he became a prominent abolitionist
  10. Died: April 17, 1790

• Scientist and Inventor

  As a scientist, Franklin invented the lightning rod, bifocals, the Franklin stove, a carriage odometer and the glass harmonica. He founded the first lending library and fire department in Pennsylvania and was an early supporter of colonial unity. As a diplomat, it was his securing of an alliance with the French that helped make U.S. independence possible.

• Writer and Philosopher

  Franklin wrote, edited and published Poor Richard's Almanack and the Pennsylvania Gazette. Both endeavors made him a wealthy man. He was elected the first president of the American Philosophical Society, the Postmaster General to the Continental Congress and the President of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania.

• Timeline

  • January 17, 1706: Born in Boston
  • 1728: Composes Articles of Belief and Acts of Religion
  • 1730: Marries Deborah Read Rogers
  • 1731: Joins the St. Johns Freemasons Lodge
  • 1737: Appointed Postmaster of Philadelphia
  • 1741: Advertises the "Franklin Stove"
  • 1752: Conducts kite experiment
  • 1765: Charts Gulf Stream
  • 1784: Invents bifocals
  • 1787: Signs the United States Constitution
  • April 17, 1790: Dies in Philadelphia

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Constitution of the United States of America | Declaration of Independence | Philadelphia Vacation | Boston Tea Party | American Revolution | Electric Circuits

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