The Life and Inventions of Ben Franklin

Many people know that Ben Franklin founded the first library and that he started the first fire department. But lots of people don't know that he hated math and was a vegetarian. Ben Franklin is known for being an inventor, a genius, insightful and wise. Yet he fathered an illegitimate son and later, refused to have anything to do with the man for many years, because of a disagreement. Among his many talents Franklin was a gifted printer, author, diplomat, philosopher, scientist, inventor and statesman.

Ben Franklin was born on a Sunday, and in Puritan times, this was a sign of the devil. To have a baby on the Sabbath was to imply that sex was had, 9 months earlier, on the Sabbath - an immeasurable taboo. This stigma did nothing to slow down the brilliant man who later invented bifocals, the catheter, the lightning rod and the odometer, along with many others useful and entertaining items. Among Franklin's illuminating ideas were daylight savings time, electricity in homes, fire insurance, and eating fruits to ward off illness. He became a vegetarian hoping to save enough money for extra books.

Franklin was the 15th child in a blended family. His stepbrothers and stepsisters, along with his real brothers and sisters, made up a family of 19, including his parents. Franklin's mother, Abiah Folger, was his dad's 2nd wife.

After learning the printing trade from his brother Franklin began writing articles for it, anonymously. The articles were written under a false identity because the New England Courant often found displeasure in the material. Franklin's brother James was even arrested and imprisoned for a month after publishing one article in particular, found to be extremely offensive.

Disagreements soon became the norm with his brother so eventually Franklin headed for Philadelphia. He soon purchased his own printing press and began his own business. Even later, he began a group meeting now known as the American Philosophical Society, where he and some of his friends would gather to philosophize.