Brai+Waddell+-+Benjamin+Franklin

benjamin franklin was born in 1706 and died 1790 he invented electricty by getting a kite the attaching a metal rod to it the a string tied to a key this was in a thunder storm to prove lightin can be electricity so the lighting strock the rod went down and .zapped him because he was holding the key so he proved lighting is electricity. Franklin earned the title of "The First American" for his early and intelegents campaigning for colonial unity as an author and spokesman in London for several colonies. then as the first United States Ambassador to France he exemplified the emerging American nation. Franklin was foundational in defining the American ethos as a marriage of the practical and democratic values of thrift, hard work, education, community spirit, self-governing institutions, and opposition to authoritarianism both political and religious, with the scientific and tolerant values of the Enlightenment. In the words of historian Henry Steele Commager, "In a Franklin could be merged the virtues of Puritanism without its defects, the illumination of the Enlightenment without its heat. To Walter Isaacson, this makes Franklin "the most accomplished American of his age and the most influential in inventing the type of society America would become Franklin, always proud of his working class roots, became a successful newspaper editor and printer in Philadelphia, the leading city in the colonies. He was also partners with William Goddard and Joseph Galloway the three of whom published the Pennsylvania Chronicle, a newspaper that was known for its revolutionary sentiments and criticisms of the British monarchy in the American colonies. He became wealthy publishing ﻿﻿﻿﻿//Poor Richard's Almanack// and ﻿﻿﻿the //pennsyliva Gazette// Franklin gained international renown as a scientist for his famous experiments in electricity and for his many inventions, especially the lightning rod. He played a major role in establishing the ﻿University of Pennsylvania﻿ and was elected the first president of the ﻿American Philosophical Society. Franklin became a national hero in America when he spearheaded the effort to have ﻿﻿Parliament﻿﻿ repeal the unpopular ﻿﻿Stamp Act. An accomplished diplomat, he was widely admired among the French as American minister to Paris and was a major figure in the development of positive ﻿﻿Franco-American relations﻿﻿. For many years he was the British postmaster for the colonies, which enabled him to set up the first national communications network. He was active in community affairs, colonial and state politics, as well as national and international affairs. From 1785 to 1788, he served as ﻿﻿governor of Pennsylvania. Toward the end of his life, he freed his slaves and became one of the most prominent ﻿abolitionists. His colorful life and legacy of scientific and political achievement, and status as one of America's most influential ﻿Founding Fathers, have seen Franklin honored on coinage and money ﻿warships the names of many towns counties, educational institutions, namesakes, and companies; and more than two centuries after his death, countless cultural references.