Benjamin Franklin is an American political figure and role model. Franklin, like Thomas Jefferson, is a man of many talents as he was an author and printer, satirist, political theorist, politician, scientist, inventor, civic activist, statesman and diplomat. He was a Puritan, but he was part of the Enlightment, like Jefferson. Besides being one of United States of America's founding fathers, he is the writer of Poor Richard's Almanack.
As a politician, he served as Postmaster General under the Continental Congress, President of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, Speaker of the Pennsylvania Assembly, and United States Minister to France and to Sweden. He also signed the Declaration of Independence for which he helped to put together and the United States Constitution.
He invented the glass harmonica, lightning rod, bifocals, the Franklin stove, a carriage odometer, and the flexible urinary catheter.
He is the founder of the American Philosophical Society. He also founded the Union Fire Company, which was one of the first volunteer fire departments. He also worked for New Jersey printing currency and for that, time brought forth anti-counterfeiting techniques.
As a musician, he played the guitar, harp and violin.
Franklin had an interest in meteorology and in electricity.
He participated because he wanted to make a difference in the political system of the United States. His inventions were not only meant to be useful for himself, but others as well. He may not have served as President of the United States, but he worked to make his voice heard and that is why we remember him today and his face is on the hundred-dollar bill.
