Benjamin Franklin

Founding Father of the United States

January 17, 1706 Boston, Massachusetts, United States

April 17, 1790 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Deborah Read (m. 1730–1774)

Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A distinguished human being, he possessed an uncanny mind and sharp wit, which he used tirelessly for the betterment of his country and society at large. Franklin is credited with many inventions, including the swim fins, Franklin stove, catheter, library chair, step ladder, lightning rod, bifocal glasses, etc. However, he never patented any of them. He did not patent his inventions as he believed that they were not mere sources of moneymaking but tools to raise the living standards of people. His experiments with lightning gained him recognition throughout the world. Benjamin Franklin played a vital role in American history as he was a signer of both the Declaration of Independence as well as the Constitution, thus he is considered as one of the pivotal personalities who shaped America. His influence has been so great on the country that many scholars have gone as far as describing him as "the only President of the United States who was never President of the United States." Though, he was not able to continue his education beyond elementary level, there are hardly any renowned universities that did not felicitate him with an honorary degree for his exemplary work.