Franklin was born on January 17, 1706, in Boston, in what was then known as the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Franklin’s father, English-born soap and candlemaker Josiah Franklin, had seven children with first wife, Anne Child, and 10 more with second wife, Abiah Folger. Franklin was his 15th child and youngest son.
Here’s how the experiment worked: Franklin constructed a simple kite and attached a wire to the top of it to act as a lightning rod. To the bottom of the kite he attached a hemp string, and to that he attached a silk string. . Franklin attached it to the hemp string, and with his son’s help, got the kite aloft.
What is Benjamin Franklin famous for kids?
Benjamin Franklin was one of the most important and influential Founding Fathers of the United States of America. He is sometimes referred to as the « First American ». Franklin was a multitalented « Renaissance Man » who excelled in many areas including science, politics, writing, music, invention, and diplomacy.
What was the purpose of Benjamin Franklin’s kite experiment?
By conducting the kite experiment Franklin proved that lighting was an electrical discharge and realized that it can be charged over a conductor into the ground providing a safe alternative path and eliminating the risk of deadly fires.
What did Benjamin Franklin do as a teenager?
Young Franklin loved reading; he would borrow books from friends and save every penny to buy books. When he was 16 he became a vegetarian partly because he did not like to eat anything that was killed and partly to save money to buy books. He read voraciously trying to improve his writing style, grammar and eloquence.
Does Benjamin Franklin have any descendants?
Benjamin Franklin did have a documented illegitimate son William who spent some time in London during which a grandson (William) Temple Franklin was born. . This tree identifies five children of Grandson William Temple Franklin but no further descendants.
What is Benjamin Franklin famous for?
Benjamin Franklin is the only founding father to have signed all four of the key documents establishing the U.S.: the Declaration of Independence (1776), the Treaty of Alliance with France (1778), the Treaty of Paris establishing peace with Great Britain (1783) and the U.S. Constitution (1787).
How did Benjamin Franklin discover electricity?
Most people give credit to Benjamin Franklin for discovering electricity. . In 1752, Franklin conducted his famous kite experiment. In order to show that lightning was electricity, he flew a kite during a thunderstorm. He tied a metal key to the kite string to conduct the electricity.
What did Benjamin Franklin do in his later life?
During his later years Franklin’s health gradually deteriorated. From 1785 to 1787 Franklin served as President of the Council of Pennsylvania. His last major appearance in public was during the Constitutional Convention which took place in Philadelphia from May 25 to September 17, 1787.
Did Benjamin Franklin discover electricity with a kite and a key?
In 1752, Franklin made a kite using two sticks, a silk handkerchief and string. At the end of the string, he placed a metal key in a Leiden Jar (or Leyden Jar) designed to store electrical charges [source: Code Check]. . This proved to him that lightning and electricity were the same.
What did Benjamin Franklin do as a kid?
Benjamin was in charge of cutting wicks for candles, filling molds, attending the shop and running errands. His father intended for his young son to inherit the business when he retired however Benjamin did not want to follow his father’s steps, he wanted to be a sailor.
Did Benjamin Franklin have grandchildren?
His last public action was to petition Congress for the abolition of slavery. Benjamin Franklin, attended by his two grandsons Temple Franklin and Benjamin Bache, died on April 17, 1790 at the age of 84.
How was electricity first discovered?
In 1752, Ben Franklin conducted his experiment with a kite, a key, and a storm. This simply proved that lightning and tiny electric sparks were the same thing. . Faraday’s rather crude invention used a magnet that was moved inside a coil of copper wire, creating a tiny electric current that flowed through the wire.
Did Benjamin Franklin come from a wealthy family?
Franklin was the youngest son of 17 children. His father was a poor candle-maker. He simply couldn’t afford to supply his youngest son with opportunities early in life. Franklin decided that it was up to him to make his own way in the world.
What is Benjamin Franklin most famous for?
Quick Facts Benjamin Franklin helped draft the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. Did You Know? Franklin was famous for his investigations into electricity and for writing ‘Poor Richard’s Almanack. ‘Dec 10, 2020
What are 3 things Benjamin Franklin is famous for?
As a scientist, he was a major figure in the American Enlightenment and the history of physics for his discoveries and theories regarding electricity. As an inventor, he is known for the lightning rod, bifocals, and the Franklin stove, among other inventions.
When was electricity discovered and used?
1879: After many experiments, Thomas Edison (U.S.) invented an incandescent light bulb that could be used for about 40 hours without burning out. By 1880 his bulbs could be used for 1200 hours.
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