Ben Franklin: A - Z

Abolitionist
After seeing young African children learning, Ben became an abolitionist, freeing his own slaves and campaigning for the freedom and education of all other slaves.

Bifocal Glasses
Ben’s invention of bifocal glasses helped people see both near and far away without needing to switch glasses. He simply combined two lens in one frame.

Continental Congress
At the age of eighty one, Ben was the oldest member of the Continental Congress. This group wrote the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.

Daylight Savings Time
Daylight Savings Time was yet another one of Ben’s inventions. It all started as a joke letter to a newspaper under an anonymous name, but the government liked the idea and adopted it!

Exercise
Ben was one of exercise’s earliest proponents. He believed that regular, rigorous exercises, especially outdoors, would prevent disease and make the body healthier.

Firefighters
The first collection of firefighters in Philadelphia was Ben’s suggestion. The members pledged to help each other put out fires, and the practice quickly spread to other cities.

Gazette
As the publisher of the Pennsylvania Gazette, Ben embraced freedom of expression and different viewpoints. He set the course for modern American news coverage.

Humor
Humor was one of Ben’s favorite things. He is often called the “First American Humorist,” and loved witty and irreverent jokes. He liked to tell jokes that “made people think.”

Inventor
Ben was arguably the greatest inventor in all of American history. He liked to create things that were practical and helped with everyday inconveniences. He also improved already existing things.

Junto
In 1727, Ben organized a group of men, called Junto, who met for deep and engaging discussions. This group eventually grew into the modern American Philosophical Society.

Kite Flying
One of the things Ben is most famous for in people’s minds is kite flying. He conducted electricity from lightning, through a metal rod in the kite, and down the string to a key in his hand.

Lightning Rod
Lightning destroyed many homes before Ben invented the lightning rod. It channeled the electricity from lightning to the ground. Ben considered this his most important invention.

Minister to France
Ben served as America’s first Minister to France. He negotiated peace between the colonies and France, gaining their support. He lived in the country for nine years.

No Meat
When he was young, Ben needed more money to buy the books he loved so much. He decided to save money by eating no meat. He also believed that vegetarianism was better for the body.

Odometer
Ben created the first odometer to measure distances covered. He used it to track his carriage routes when he delivered mail as the postmaster, so he could try and figure out the best route.

Patent
A patent wasn’t taken out by Ben for any one of his many inventions! He believed that inventors should freely share their creations without trying to make money.

Quotes
In the Poor Richard’s Almanac, a book Ben put out annually for twenty-six years, he wrote countless witty quotes that people still use constantly today.

Reading
Reading was one of Ben’s greatest pleasures and passions. He had only two years of formal schooling, so he mostly taught himself to read in his brother’s printing shop as an apprentice.

Streetlights
Streetlights in Ben’s day were dirty and not very bright. He invented an improved version that shone much stronger and didn’t have to be cleaned as often.

Three
Ben has the honor of being the only man in history to sign all of America’s three early documents – the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Paris, and the U.S. Constitution.

Underwater
A strong proponent of physical activity, Ben spent a lot of his time underwater. He taught himself how to swim, invented the first swim fins, and even became a full-time instructor.

Volunteering
Volunteering was important to Ben. He believed that “People volunteering together in a spirit of cooperation could accomplish great things.”

Writing
Ben loved writing, like reading, and also mainly taught himself the ability as an apprentice in the print shop. He liked to write in letters to the local papers under funny pseudonyms.

Extension Arm
Tired of being unable to reach books on the high shelves in the first public library he founded, Ben invented the extension arm, which still helps people grab things today.

Young
Ben certainly wasn’t young when he died! He lived to the age of eighty-four, an amazing accomplishment for his time period. His healthy life style probably made this possible.

Zeal
Ben had a great zeal for life that few will ever be able to measure up to. He was a “man of many hats” - a diplomat, politician, inventor, writer, printer, philosopher, doctor, and much, much more!