Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He was a polymath, a leading author, printer, political philosopher, freemason, postmaster, scientist, inventor, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat. For his observations and ideas on electricity, he was a key figure in the American Enlightenment and the development of physics. He is renowned for many innovations, including the lightning rod, bifocals, and the Franklin stove. He founded a variety of civic groups, including the Philadelphia’s first fire department, the Library Company, and the University of Pennsylvania.