Benjamin Franklin
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Benjamin Franklin made many breakthroughs. Make the kite experiment.
- Charges: opposites attract, likes repl
- “Electrical Fluid” through all matter
Benjamin Franklin (Jan. 17, 1706 – April 17, 1790) was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States and a polymath. He was a leading writer, printer, political philosopher, scientist, inventor, humorist, civic activist, statesman and a diplomat. Besides his work on theories regarding electricity, he also invented lightning rods, bifocals, and the Franklin stove (these are still used). He founded many civic organizations including the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia’s first fire department and the Library Company.
He was one of the founders of the American ethos creating a marriage of hard work, education, community spirit, self-governing institutions, and opposition to authoritarianism. While initially being a slave holder in his early life and profiting from slave trade, he became an abolitionist and became an outspoken critic. What inspires me most is his take on patents. He never took a patent or a copyright for his work. He wrote in his autobiography, “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 generously”. It is on the shoulder of these giants that we enjoy our lives today.