Happy 300th Birthday Benjamin Franklin

Guinnessy writes "Benjamin Franklin was born on 17 January 1706 in Boston, Massachusetts. Franklin was a man of diverse talents: publisher, inventor, ambassador, politician, wit with some human frailities says NPR. In Physics Today, Philip Krider presents Franklin's work on electricity and the development of the lightning rod, work whose fame helped Franklin obtain aid from the French against the British. In the same magazine, Joost Mertens considers Franklin's explorations of the calming effects of oil on water. Those investigations, it turns out, had a less than calming effect on Dutch scholars. Philadelphia is planning a series of events celebratng Franklin's life throughtout the year."

Comments

Re:Benjamin Franklin, the truest of American Heroe

[OldeTimeGeek]

He first agitated for, and then actively participated in, the armed overthrow of the government, using an army of unlawful combatants backed by a rouge state.

Backed by a red state? The Republicans backed the overthrow of legitimate goverments even then?

why do we celebrate MLK day...

[Yonder Way]

...when Benjamin Franklin has contributed so much more to the liberty of so many (not just in North America, but also in Europe!)

Not knocking MLK, but I think his contributions pale in comparison to Franklin. I could be biased, posting from Philadelphia. :)

Great quote.

[heldlikesound]

Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy. -Ben