The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

<p><span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) was one of the </span>Founding Fathers of the United States<span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>. A noted </span>polymath<span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> Franklin was a leading author and printer </span>political theorist<span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> </span>politician<span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> </span>postmaster<span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> scientist inventor </span>satirist<span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> civic activist statesman and </span>diplomat<span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>. As a scientist he was a major figure in the </span>American Enlightenment<span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> and the </span>history of physics<span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> for his discoveries and theories regarding </span>electricity<span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>. He invented the </span>lightning rod<span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> </span>bifocals<span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> the </span>Franklin stove<span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> a carriage </span>odometer<span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> and the </span>glass 'armonica'<span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>. He formed both the first public </span>lending library<span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> in America and the first </span>fire department<span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> in Pennsylvania. Franklin always proud of his </span>working class<span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> roots became a successful newspaper editor and printer in </span>Philadelphia<span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>. He became wealthy publishing </span>Poor Richard's Almanack<span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> and </span>The Pennsylvania Gazette<span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>. Franklin gained international renown as a scientist for his famous experiments in electricity and for his many inventions especially the lightning rod. Franklin became a national hero in America when he spearheaded the effort to have </span>Parliament<span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> repeal the unpopular </span>Stamp Act<span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>. An accomplished diplomat he was widely admired among the French as American minister to Paris. From 1785 to 1788 he served as </span>governor of Pennsylvania<span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>. His colorful life and legacy of scientific and political achievement and status as one of America's most influential </span>Founding Fathers<span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> have seen Franklin honored on coinage and </span>money<span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>; </span>warships<span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>; </span>the names of many towns<span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> counties educational institutions namesakes and companies; and more than two centuries after his death countless cultural references.</span></p>