Why did Benjamin Franklin become a scientist?
Affectionately known as Dr. Franklin (even though he never received his Ph.D.), he published numerous scientific papers—mostly on electricity. Franklin became a scientist because he was insatiably curious about the world around him. He wanted to know how things worked and figure out ways to make them better.
What is Benjamin Franklin best known for?
Benjamin Franklin FRS FRSA FRSE (January 17, 1706 [O.S. January 6, 1705] – April 17, 1790) was an American polymath and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, Freemason, postmaster, scientist, inventor, humorist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat.
What did Benjamin Franklin do for Education?
Franklin’s self-education earned him honorary degrees from Harvard, Yale, England’s University of Oxford and the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. In 1749, Franklin wrote a pamphlet concerning the education of youth in Pennsylvania that resulted in the establishment of the Academy of Philadelphia, now the University of Pennsylvania.
Why was Benjamin Franklin important to the founding fathers?
He was the only one of the founding fathers to also sign the other two documents that established the U.S., which were the Treaty of Paris in 1783 that ended the Revolutionary War and the Constitution. In addition to these historic moments, Franklin was also famous for his work and theories on electricity.
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What did Benjamin Franklin discover in science?
Experiments in Electricity Franklin demonstrated his new theory of positive and negative charges, suggested the electrical nature of lightning, and proposed a tall, grounded rod as a protection against lightning.
What are 3 things Benjamin Franklin is famous for?
Ben Franklin's best inventions and innovationsInvention: The Franklin stove (1742). ... Invention: The lightning rod (circa 1753). ... Invention or innovation: Bifocals (date unconfirmed). ... Invention or innovation: The flexible catheter (1752). ... Invention: Key words to describe electricity.More items...•
What are 4 things Benjamin Franklin is famous for?
Benjamin Franklin was a Founding Father and a polymath, inventor, scientist, printer, politician, freemason and diplomat. Franklin helped to draft the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, and he negotiated the 1783 Treaty of Paris ending the Revolutionary War.
Was Benjamin Franklin a good scientist?
Born on 17 January 1706 in Boston, Benjamin Franklin was not only an influential statesman but also a gifted scientist. His groundbreaking work with electricity made him world renowned and contributed to the beginning of modern physics.
What are 5 interesting facts about Benjamin Franklin?
Top 10 Facts about Benjamin FranklinBenjamin's parents wanted him to be a clergy. ... His formal education took 2 years. ... His first job was at a printer. ... Benjamin later became a journalist. ... Benjamin loved swimming. ... He invented a glass armonica. ... Benjamin Franklin loved playing chess. ... He created his own phonetic alphabet.More items...•
What are 5 things Benjamin Franklin invented?
He invented:Swim fins (1717)Franklin/Pennsylvania stove (1741)Lightning rod (1750)Flexible catheter (1752)24-hour, three-wheel clock that was much simpler than other designs of the day (1757)Glass armonica, a simple musical instrument made of spinning glass (1762)Bifocals (1784)More items...•
Why is Ben Franklin on the 100 dollar bill?
Franklin contributed much to what is deemed most “American” about the United States. He was tirelessly innovative, brave and capable, diplomatic and wise. All of these values are honored by Americans and honored in the likeness of the unforgettable Franklin on the $100 bill.
What did Benjamin Franklin invent first?
When he was an 11-year-old in Boston, Franklin's first invention was a pair of oval planks with holes through their centres. Grasping the two planks with his hands, Franklin used the "fins" to give him a bit of extra thrust underwater.
What instrument did Benjamin Franklin invent?
Glass ArmonicaBen Franklin's Glass Armonica Franklin began to take his beloved armonica with him when he traveled and played popular Scottish tunes or original compositions for his audiences. Later, composers such as Beethoven, Mozart, and Donizetti would write music for the armonica.
How did Benjamin Franklin change the world?
He Changed the World with The Power of His Pen He was directly involved with editing the Declaration of Independence, was a trusted voice at the Constitutional Convention, which led to the United States Constitution, and was integral to writing the Treaty of Paris, which officially ended the Revolutionary War.
Who was a famous black scientist or inventor?
1. George Washington Carver. Known for: Born into slavery, George Washington Carver became a foremost botanist, inventor and teacher. He invented over 300 uses for the peanut and developed methods to prevent soil depletion.
What did Benjamin Franklin invent electricity?
After his successful demonstration, Franklin continued his work with electricity, going on to perfect his lightning rod invention. In 1753, he received the prestigious Copley Medal from the Royal Society, in recognition of his “curious experiments and observations on electricity.” By Nancy Gupton.
What did Benjamin Franklin do?
Franklin helped to draft the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, and he negotiated the 1783 Treaty of Paris ending the Revolutionary War . His scientific pursuits included investigations into electricity, mathematics and mapmaking.
What was Benjamin Franklin's main goal in 1730?
By that time, he had formed the “Junto,” a social and self-improvement study group for young men that met every Friday to debate morality, philosophy and politics.
Why did Benjamin Franklin sail to London?
Franklin sailed to London to negotiate a long-standing dispute with the proprietors of the colony, the Penn family, taking William and his two enslaved people but leaving behind Deborah and Sarah.
How many children did Benjamin Franklin have?
Franklin’s father, English-born soap and candlemaker Josiah Franklin, had seven children with first wife, Anne Child, and 10 more with second wife, Abiah Folger. Franklin was his 15th child and youngest son.
How old was Franklin when he apprenticed to Josiah?
Perhaps to dissuade him from going to sea as one of his other sons had done, Josiah apprenticed 12-year-old Franklin at the print shop run by his older brother James.
What was Franklin's first pamphlet?
In 1725 Franklin published his first pamphlet, "A Dissertation upon Liberty and Necessity, Pleasure and Pain," which argued that humans lack free will and, thus, are not morally responsible for their actions. (Franklin later repudiated this thought and burned all but one copy of the pamphlet still in his possession.)
What was Franklin's first son's name?
The pair’s first son, Francis, was born in 1732, but he died four years later of smallpox. The couple’s only daughter, Sarah, was born in 1743. The two times Franklin moved to London, in 1757 and again in 1764, it was without Deborah, who refused to leave Philadelphia.
Why did Benjamin Franklin become a scientist?
Franklin became a scientist because he was insatiably curious about the world around him. He wanted to know how things worked and figure out ways to make them better. In 1743, Franklin compared weather observations in letters he received from friends in other colonies.
What was Benjamin Franklin known for?
While popularly known for his role as one of the United States’ founding fathers, Benjamin Franklin was also a renowned scientist who made a number of substantial contributions in the field of Earth science. Affectionately known as Dr. Franklin (even though he never received his Ph.D.), he published numerous scientific papers—mostly on electricity.
Was the charge of the lightning strong enough to kill Franklin?
Miraculously, the charge was not strong enough to be fatal to Franklin or his son. (Under normal circumstances, a lightning strike can instantly kill any individuals bold enough to fly a kite during a thunderstorm.) Top: A portrait of Benjamin Franklin. By Roger Kammerer.
Where was Benjamin Franklin born?
Benjamin Franklin was born on Milk Street, in Boston, Massachusetts, on January 17, 1706, and baptized at Old South Meeting House.
Who was Benjamin Franklin's father?
Benjamin Franklin's father, Josiah Franklin, was a tallow chandler, soaper, and candlemaker. Josiah Franklin was born at Ecton, Northamptonshire, England on December 23, 1657, the son of blacksmith and farmer Thomas Franklin and Jane White. Benjamin's father and all four of his grandparents were born in England.
What did Benjamin Franklin do after Denham died?
Upon Denham's death, Franklin returned to his former trade. In 1728, Franklin had set up a printing house in partnership with Hugh Meredith; the following year he became the publisher of a newspaper called The Pennsylvania Gazette. The Gazette gave Franklin a forum for agitation about a variety of local reforms and initiatives through printed essays and observations. Over time, his commentary, and his adroit cultivation of a positive image as an industrious and intellectual young man, earned him a great deal of social respect. But even after Franklin had achieved fame as a scientist and statesman, he habitually signed his letters with the unpretentious 'B. Franklin, Printer.'
How did Benjamin Franklin prove lightning is electricity?
Franklin published a proposal for an experiment to prove that lightning is electricity by flying a kite in a storm that appeared capable of becoming a lightning storm. On May 10, 1752, Thomas-François Dalibard of France conducted Franklin's experiment using a 40-foot-tall (12 m) iron rod instead of a kite, and he extracted electrical sparks from a cloud. On June 15, 1752, Franklin may possibly have conducted his well-known kite experiment in Philadelphia, successfully extracting sparks from a cloud. Franklin described the experiment in the Pennsylvania Gazette on October 19, 1752, without mentioning that he himself had performed it. This account was read to the Royal Society on December 21 and printed as such in the Philosophical Transactions. Joseph Priestley published an account with additional details in his 1767 History and Present Status of Electricity. Franklin was careful to stand on an insulator, keeping dry under a roof to avoid the danger of electric shock. Others, such as Prof. Georg Wilhelm Richmann in Russia, were indeed electrocuted in performing lightning experiments during the months immediately following Franklin's experiment.
What was the name of the book that Franklin wrote under the pseudonym Richard Saunders?
In 1733, Franklin began to publish the noted Poor Richard's Almanack (with content both original and borrowed) under the pseudonym Richard Saunders, on which much of his popular reputation is based. Franklin frequently wrote under pseudonyms. Although it was no secret that Franklin was the author, his Richard Saunders character repeatedly denied it. "Poor Richard's Proverbs", adages from this almanac, such as "A penny saved is twopence dear" (often misquoted as "A penny saved is a penny earned") and "Fish and visitors stink in three days", remain common quotations in the modern world. Wisdom in folk society meant the ability to provide an apt adage for any occasion, and Franklin's readers became well prepared. He sold about ten thousand copies per year—it became an institution. In 1741, Franklin began publishing The General Magazine and Historical Chronicle for all the British Plantations in America, the first such monthly magazine of this type published in America.
How old was William Franklin when he was born?
See also: William Franklin. William Franklin. In 1730, 24-year-old Franklin publicly acknowledged the existence of his son William, who was deemed "illegitimate," as he was born out of wedlock, and raised him in his household. William was born February 22, 1730, and his mother's identity is still unknown.
How many children did Josiah Franklin have?
Following her death, Josiah was married to Abiah Folger on July 9, 1689, in the Old South Meeting House by Reverend Samuel Willard, and would eventually have ten children with her. Benjamin, their eighth child, was Josiah Franklin's fifteenth child overall, and his tenth and final son.
Who is Benjamin Franklin?
Benjamin Franklin is best known as one of the Founding Fathers of the United States who helped draft the Declaration of Independence. He is also famous for his scientific work with electricity, writing, painting and diplomatic work.
What was Franklin's most important work?
He is also famous for his scientific work with electricity, writing, painting and diplomatic work. Franklin played a key part in drafting one of the most important documents in America's history. He was the only one of the founding fathers to also sign the other two documents that established the U.S., which were the Treaty ...
When did Benjamin Franklin publish his theory?
His theories were published in 1751, but he did not conduct his famous kite and key experiment until the following year in 1752. Franklin served in many roles for the government of not only the Colonial States, but also the U.S. by working as a representative and foreign diplomat for places like Massachusetts, Georgia and New Jersey in England.
How long did Benjamin Franklin live in France?
Franklin was also the first American ambassador to France. He lived there for 10 years before returning to America to play a role in getting George Washington elected as the first President of the U.S. ADVERTISEMENT.
Who Was Benjamin Franklin?
Early Life
- Franklin was born on January 17, 1706, in Boston, in what was then known as the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Franklin’s father, English-born soap and candlemaker Josiah Franklin, had seven children with first wife, Anne Child, and 10 more with second wife, Abiah Folger. Franklin was his 15th child and youngest son. Franklin learned to read at an early age, and despite his success at …
Silence Dogood
- When James refused to publish any of his brother’s writing, 16-year-old Franklin adopted the pseudonym Mrs. Silence Dogood, and “her” 14 imaginative and witty letters delighted readers of his brother’s newspaper, The New England Courant. James grew angry, however, when he learned that his apprentice had penned the letters. Tired of his brother’s “harsh and tyrannical” behavior, …
Living in London
- Encouraged by Pennsylvania Governor William Keith to set up his own print shop, Franklin left for Londonin 1724 to purchase supplies from stationers, booksellers and printers. When the teenager arrived in England, however, he felt duped when Keith’s letters of introduction never arrived as promised. Although forced to find work at London’s print shops, Franklin took full advantage of t…
Wife and Children
- In 1723, after Franklin moved from Boston to Philadelphia, he lodged at the home of John Read, where he met and courted his landlord’s daughter Deborah. After Franklin returned to Philadelphia in 1726, he discovered that Deborah had married in the interim, only to be abandoned by her husband just months after the wedding. The future Founding Father rekindled his romance with …
Life in Philadelphia
- After his return to Philadelphia in 1726, Franklin held varied jobs including bookkeeper, shopkeeper and currency cutter. In 1728 he returned to a familiar trade - printing paper currency - in New Jersey before partnering with a friend to open his own print shop in Philadelphia that published government pamphlets and books. In 1730 Franklin was named the official printer of …
Poor Richard's Almanack
- At the end of 1732, Franklin published the first edition of Poor Richard’s Almanack. In addition to weather forecasts, astronomical information and poetry, the almanac—which Franklin published for 25 consecutive years—included proverbs and Franklin’s witty maxims such as “Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise” and “He that lies down with dogs, shal…
Scientist and Inventor
- In the 1740s, Franklin expanded into science and entrepreneurship. His 1743 pamphlet "A Proposal for Promoting Useful Knowledge" underscored his interests and served as the founding document of the American Philosophical Society, the first scientific society in the colonies. By 1748, the 42-year-old Franklin had become one of the richest men in Pennsylvania, and he beca…
Inventions
- Franklin was a prolific inventor and scientist who was responsible for the following inventions: 1. Franklin stove: Franklin’s first invention, created around 1740, provided more heat with less fuel. 2. Bifocals: Anyone tired of switching between two pairs of glasses understands why Franklin developed bifocals that could be used for both distance and reading. 3. Armonica:Franklin’s inve…
Electricity
- In 1752, Franklin conducted the famous kite-and-key experiment to demonstrate that lightning was electricity and soon after invented the lightning rod. His investigations into electrical phenomena were compiled into “Experiments and Observations on Electricity,” published in England in 1751. He coined new electricity-related terms that are still part of the lexicon, such a…
Overview
Benjamin Franklin FRS FRSA FRSE (January 17, 1706 [O.S. January 6, 1706] – April 17, 1790) was an American polymath who was active as a writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, printer, publisher, and political philosopher. Among the leading intellectuals of his time, Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, a drafter and signer of the United States Declaration of Indep…
Ancestry
Benjamin Franklin's father, Josiah Franklin, was a tallow chandler, soaper, and candlemaker. Josiah Franklin was born at Ecton, Northamptonshire, England, on December 23, 1657, the son of Thomas Franklin, a blacksmith and farmer, and his wife, Jane White. Benjamin's father and all four of his grandparents were born in England.
Josiah Franklin had a total of seventeen children with his two wives. He married his first wife, An…
Early life
Franklin was born on Milk Street in Boston, Massachusetts on January 17, 1706, and baptized at Old South Meeting House. As a child growing up along the Charles River, Franklin recalled that he was "generally the leader among the boys."
Franklin's father wanted him to attend school with the clergy but only had enou…
Public life
In 1736, Franklin created the Union Fire Company, one of the first volunteer firefighting companies in America. In the same year, he printed a new currency for New Jersey based on innovative anti-counterfeiting techniques he had devised. Throughout his career, he was an advocate for paper money, publishing A Modest Enquiry into the Nature and Necessity of a Paper Currency in 1729, a…
Death
Franklin suffered from obesity throughout his middle-aged and later years, which resulted in multiple health problems, particularly gout, which worsened as he aged. In poor health during the signing of the US Constitution in 1787, he was rarely seen in public from then until his death.
Benjamin Franklin died from pleuritic attack at his home in Philadelphia on Apri…
Inventions and scientific inquiries
Franklin was a prodigious inventor. Among his many creations were the lightning rod, Franklin stove, bifocal glasses and the flexible urinary catheter. He never patented his inventions; in his autobiography he wrote, "... as we enjoy great advantages from the inventions of others, we should be glad of an opportunity to serve others by any invention of ours; and this we should do freely and gene…
Political, social, and religious views
Like the other advocates of republicanism, Franklin emphasized that the new republic could survive only if the people were virtuous. All his life, he explored the role of civic and personal virtue, as expressed in Poor Richard's aphorisms. He felt that organized religion was necessary to keep men good to their fellow men, but rarely attended religious services himself. When he met Voltaire in Par…
Interests and activities
Franklin is known to have played the violin, the harp, and the guitar. He also composed music, notably a string quartet in early classical style. While he was in London, he developed a much-improved version of the glass harmonica, in which the glasses rotate on a shaft, with the player's fingers held steady, instead of the other way around. He worked with the London glassblower Charles James to c…