Benjamin Franklin Inventing America

Benjamin Franklin arrived in Philadelphia with little more than threeloaves of bread under his arm. But this son of a soapmaker went on to leadperhaps the most extraordinary life of any American. With only two years ofgrammar school education, Franklin became, among other things, a printer,publisher, postmaster, philosopher, scientist, inventor, statesman, musician,and abolitionist.Franklin's achievements were many and varied. As a loyal and inspired patriot,Franklin helped draft the Declaration of Independence, proclaiming at itssigning that "we must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hangseparately." His Poor Richard's Almanac was a bestseller and the source ofinnumerable aphorisms, such as "Time is money" and "Early to bed, early to rise,makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise," which still are frequently quotednearly 300 years later. Franklin's curiosity about the world around him led tohis experiments with lightning and his invention of the lightning rod. Neveridle, he spent his voyages across the Atlantic mapping the Gulf Stream, ensuringsailors faster transatlantic crossings. He also introducing the idea of pavedstreets to relieve the dust and mud in Philadelphia and organized the country'sfirst volunteer fire companies. Franklin dreamed up the efficient Franklinstove, bifocals, and daylight savings time--all still in use today. In thisengaging biography, historian Edwin Gaustad chronicles the life story and manyaccomplishments of this fascinating and entertaining man, this exemplary citizenof a new country, the United States.Gaustad, Edwin S. is the author of 'Benjamin Franklin Inventing America', published 2004 under ISBN 9780195157321 and ISBN 019515732X.