The Magnificent Mr. Franklin

[HARDCORE]

12-18-2023

Just about every ‘American’ has heard of ‘Benjamin Franklin’ but just how much do you really know about the man himself?!

For the record, few men (even by today’s standards) were as accomplished as “Dear Old Ben!!” This gent was a truly unbelievable – Statesman, Inventor, Patriot, Genius and Intellectual (among other things)! He was also “One Tough Cookie” who, had we lost “Our War for Independence”, would probably been hunted-down and hung, along with ‘All of Our Other Great Founding Fathers?

“As Our Own Illustrious American History Will Attest” – we kicked ass - and became “The Greatest Nation” ever to exist upon the entire face of this meandering little ball of rock and sod and so it is!!

Getting back to “Ben Franklin Himself”, he lived from “1706 to 1790” and although he is listed as once having been “The President of Pennsylvania”, Ben passed-on to his final reward at the age of eighty-four and he must always be remembered, not only for his monumental intellect, but indeed, “He Was One of The Truly Great Americans & Polymaths of All Times!!”

Hardcore

[Boats]

More on: Benjamin Franklin’s Legacy Of Inventions, Discoveries & Observations
By: Visit Philadelphia Media Center
Re: https://www.visitphilly.com/media-ce...in-inventions/

Inventor. Diplomat. Scientist. Entrepreneur. Catalyst. Benjamin Franklin was quite a busy man. In his 84 years, he invented, discovered and improved many of the devices and civic institutions that people rely on today. Here’s a look:

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)
Long arm (extension arm) to reach high books (1786)
He discovered:

Ways to keep streets cleaner and deal with waste management (1750s)
That electricity existed in storm clouds, in the form of lightning (1752)
He founded and co-founded:

America’s first circulating library, The Library Company of Philadelphia (1731)
America’s first volunteer fire department, Union Fire Company (1736)
America’s first learned society (with John Bartram), American Philosophical Society (1743)
America’s first liberal arts academy, Pennsylvania Academy & College, now the University of Pennsylvania (1749)
America’s first public hospital, Pennsylvania Hospital (1751)
America’s first mutual insurance company, The Philadelphia Contributionship (1752)
He suggested:

Colonies join together in a confederation, The Albany Plan (1754, not adopted)
The concept of Daylight Savings Time in the essay, An Economical Project for Diminishing the Cost of Light (1784, not adopted until 20th century)
He improved:

Street lamps that gave more light and would not be so easily vandalized (1751)
He observed:

That storms can move in an opposite direction from the direction of the wind. He also proposed one of the first correct explanations for storm movement in the Northern Hemisphere (1743).
That prolonged exposure to lead would cause sickness (1768)
He surmised:

That the common cold was passed from person to person through indoor air (1773)
He designed:

Rate chart used by postmasters (1753)
He was first to:

Use the words “positive” and “negative” to describe electricity (1747)
Create a political cartoon in America, published in The Plain Truth (1747)
Chart the Gulf Stream during transatlantic trips to and from London (1768)
Serve as Ambassador of the United States (1776)
Introduce the colonists to Scotch kale, Swiss barley, Chinese rhubarb and kohlrabi
For Benjamin Franklin press releases photos and b-roll, visit visitphilly.com/media-center/photos-videos/. Consumers can go to visitphilly.com/ben for information about the museum and Ben’s Philadelphia.

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Personal note: Not bad for one man's contributions! I also heard he was a womanizer
as well - way to go Ben!
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