Who is Benjamin Franklin?
Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. As a noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat. Franklin, always proud of his working class roots, became a successful newspaper editor and printer in Philadelphia. He was also partners with William Goddard and Joseph Galloway the three of whom published the Pennsylvania Chronicle..He became wealthy publishing Poor Richard's Almanac and The Pennsylvania Gazette. Franklin gained international renown as a scientist for his famous experiments in electricity and for his many inventions, especially the lightning rod. He played a major role in establishing the University of Pennsylvania and was elected the first president of the American Philosophical Society. Franklin became a national hero in America when he spearheaded the effort to have Parliament repeal the unpopular Stamp Act. An accomplished diplomat, he was widely admired among the French as American minister to Paris and was a major figure in the development of positive Franco-American relations. He was active in community affairs, colonial and state politics, as well as national and international affairs and From 1785 to 1788, he served as governor of Pennsylvania.