Benjamin Franklin

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Benjamin Franklin, son of a soap and candle maker, was born in Boston, Massachusetts on 17 January 1706. He was the 15th of 17 children. After attending Boston’s Latin School for only two years it had been decided that he would become a printer because of his love for books. In 1726 he set up his own printing business, and bought the Pennsylvania Gazette which was one of the United States most prominent newspapers. In 1737, he became deputy postmaster of Philadelphia, and was a member of the colony's legislative body. Not only was Franklin a statesman and diplomat, he was an inventor, a scientist, a writer, printer and publisher. Benjamin Franklin was a genius and contributed so much to the modern world we live in today.

In the 18th Century electricity was a mysterious force and scientists like Benjamin Franklin began to conduct experiments to test his theories. “In ancient times, lightning was believed to be the javelins that the god Jove hurled at his enemies, and was referred to as Jove's thunderbolts. In more modern times lightning was believed to be God's method of punishing pe...

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