Benjamin Franklin, the Diplomat
In 1753, he was appointed by the British Parliament as the Joint Deputy Postmaster-General of North America.
He appealed to the House of Commons regarding the Stamp Act of 1765. Later, he started his service as a Revolutionary.
Benjamin Franklin, the Revolutionary
He joined the Second Continental Congress with the aim of wining full independence for the colonies.
Later, he was appointed as the first Postmaster General of the United States Post Office.
He advised Thomas Jefferson regarding the Declaration of Independence.
Franklin served as a head diplomat in the American delegation to France.
He succeeded in winning support of the French that led to peace negotiations and signing the Treaty of Paris of 1783.
In 1785, Franklin went back to Philadelphia, and was elected as a Pennsylvania governor for three terms (Benton, 2013).
Benjamin Franklin, the Scientist
In 1746-1747, Benjamin Franklin learned from his friends in England and France that some discoveries about electricity were made. He also started conducting some experiments of his own.
In 1747, he came to a few fundamental conclusions about electricity:
Franklin understood electricity as a single fluid and used the words vitreous and resinous instead of positive and negative (plus or minus) (Franklin – The Scientist, n.d.).
Franklin is the author of the discovery of "the wonderful effect of pointed bodies, both in drawing off and throwing off the electrical fire” (Franklin – The Scientist, n.d.).
His discoveries about electrical nature of lightening brought him directly to the audience with the King of France.
Major Scientific Contributions regarding Electricity and its connection to Lightning
Giving Light
Crooked direction
Light color
Swift motion
Explosiveness with a noise
Being conducted by metals
Water and ice subsistence
Destroying animals
Affecting bodies which it passes through
Melting metals
Sulphureous smell
Activating explosive substances
The electrical fluid is attracted by points (Franklin – The Scientist, n.d.).
Benjamin Franklin, the Inventor
Invented Bifocals
Invented Stove
Devised the First Flexible Catheter
Invented Odometer
Among many other devices we use now
Benjamin Franklin, the Writer
He had a great talent and became a recognized writer.
His first work published in his brother’s newspaper the New England Courant. Franklin used his favorite pseudonym “Silence Dogood.”
He surprised people by his ability to tell stories on behalf of many different protagonists.
Benjamin Franklin, the Philosopher
Franklin was involved into writing poems and stories.
However, he became famous for his Poor Richard's Almanac, where he revealed his extraordinary intelligence.
It contained information about human body and day-to-day advice for everybody to follow (“Benjamin Franklin, the Writer,” n.d.)
Benjamin Franklin, the Publisher
He started as a printer due to his desire to spread books among people.
Later, he became a publisher, founded papers and worked there by himself.
He was also known as an editor and reporter, a person with a great literature talent, who used “wise saying and maxims” (“Franklin’s Contributions to the American Revolution as a Diplomat in France,” n.d.)
References
Benjamin Franklin, the Writer. (n.d.). America’s Story. Retrieved from http://www.americaslibrary.gov/aa/franklinb/aa_franklinb_writer_1.html
Benton, M. (2013). Contributions of Benjamin Franklin. Benjamin Franklin Bio. Retrieved from http://benjaminfranklinbio.com/contributions-of-benjamin-franklin/150/
Franklin – The Scientist. (n.d.). Texas A&M University. Retrieved from http://www.math.tamu.edu/~stecher/489/Ben/science.shtml
Franklin’s Contributions to the American Revolution as a Diplomat in France. (n.d.). Historic Valley Forge. Retrieved from http://www.ushistory.org/valleyforge/history/franklin.html
