Why is Benjamin Franklin so famous?

Answer 1

He discovered Electricity!

Benjamin Franklin was a legend in his own time. He was the most famous American of the 1700s. Just like Nelson Mandella today is the one name anyone really knows from South Africa, in the 18th century, Benjamin Franklin was the one man everyone back in the home country of Britain had all heard of. He was the one man who stood out among all the players in America- a leader in colony politics, who, in his spare time, managed to develop his interests in business, science, human nature, math, languages. With an easy way with people and an exceptional wit, he rose above his humble Puritan-Boston beginnings to become what would be equivalent today to a billionaire. He retired early in his forties and began to give back to the community.

But the second half of his life propelled him to even greater fame. He was one of the few men to sign both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. He was a major player in the American Revolution that brought independence from Britain. When he wasn't travelling back and forth between America and Europe representing the colonies to Kings and government officials, he started the farmer's almanac, which was subscribed to by almost everyone in Philedelphia wherein he published countless witty "Franklinisms" such as "A penny saved is a penny earned", and he convinced his fellow countrymen to print their own currency, thus improving their economy. His belief in individualism paved the way for American capitalism, and his home-grown recipe for success, plain old hard work, fleshed out for America what became known as the American Dream

The 1700's saw America rise from being the backwater of civilization with very little culture and education, to a formidable player on the world stage, led in no small way by Benjamin Franklin. Until the revolution, America suffered from an inferiority complex. The motherland, Britain, set the standard in education, government, techonology, and fashion; America had uneducated farmers, dirt poor manual laborers, and religious zealots escaping persecution. Using his printing business as a platform, Franklin published articles that pushed colonists to improve their lives by sending their children to school, volunteering for their community, thinking critically about Britain's role in colonial governance, and doing things to help themselves instead of waiting for other people to do it for them. He was the champion of the manual laborer, encouraging them to take pride in their professions. In his position of Deputy Postmaster General of North America, he improved the postal service and eased the colonies' relationship with surrounding Aboriginal tribes. He started a hospital, a univeristy, the first public library in the world, and a fire station. He invented bifocals, the Franklin stove, the armonica, and of course conducted his famous experiments with electricity.

His recipe for success, self-improvement through rigorous self-discipline and hard work, was soaked up by the American people eager to move up in their social class. His autobiography was studied in schools clear across America during the 19th century (and was later prescribed in schools in Japan during their transition from rural folkspeople to industrial and technology-savvy urbanites). American parents imposed the Franklin standard on their children: early to rise, early to bed, meals of bread and water, the study of astronomy over the lunch hour, burning the midnight oil to study algebra before bed. While you're at it, teach yourself four or five langugages. For a short time, he even imposed on himself a strict weekly schedule that involved working through the different virtues in an attempt to attain moral perfection. Nineteenth century parents from coast to coast became obsessed with grooming their children to become another Franklin, and as Mark Twain attests in a searing essay written on Franklin's influence, his legacy for industry and frugality effectively ruined the wild, unbridled fun of American schoolboys for generations to come.

Although he was highly disciplined himself, he went easy on others and emphasized forgiveness of the many flaws of human nature. Humans were not perfect, and he came to accept that fact after having been duped by a British mentor friend as a young man. Throughout his career as a statesman and community leader, he tempered many a religious argument and got different factions to work together by emphasizing the lowest common denominator virtues of order, sincerity, justice, and humility. He believed that everyone should try their best to get along with their neighbor and help out in the community, but in the end, everyone was a free individual and had to do what was best for themselves.

Answer 2

Benjamin Franklin was known for various things. He was an author and printer, satirist, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, inventor, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat. He was a major figure in the Enlightment, for his major discoveries in electricity. Some loved him. Others disliked him. But over all, he has shown great leadership to our country, and also opened our minds up to better science.

Answer 3

There are several reasons that Benjamin Franklin is so famous including that he signed the Declaration of Independence. He invented the iron furnace stove and lightning rod and he published Poor Richard's Almanac.

Answer 4

Franklin is famous because he was a vital part of the founding of the United States. He took part in writing the Declaration of Independence as an editor and a signer. He was an inventor of the Franklin stove, the lighting rod, and other items. He wrote books and newspapers and got the Philadelphia fire department established. During the Revolution he was sent to France to negotiate with the French court for help. He was very popular over there and came home to help more with the revolution. He hired a pirate ship to take British ships who were stopping American ships and taking American sailors. The captain he hired was suppose to take British sailors as prisoners so they could be traded for the Americans, but instead the Irish captain took booty and didn't take sailors to trade. When Franklin found out he fired the captain and sold the ship. Franklin was also at the constitutional convention and was the oldest man there and signed the constitution. He DID NOT invent electricity, but proved it was natural and part of nature. He could clearly be called a Renaissance man and a man who made a difference in American history.

Answer 5

he invented so many things and he hepled improve the 13 colonies stating that every colony should be free

Answer 6

He became famous because of his experiment with electricity.

Answer 7

Benjamin Franklin was an inventor, scientist, politician, and a founding father.

Answer 8

electrifier and bifolicals

Answer 9

he invented the most useful things:]