Benjamin Franklin
<p>Born 1706 </p>
<p>
<b>Benjamin Franklin</b> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fellow_of_the_Royal_Society" title="Fellow of the Royal Society">FRS</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fellow_of_the_Royal_Society_of_Edinburgh" title="Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh">FRSE</a> (January 17, 1706 [<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Style_and_New_Style_dates" title="Old Style and New Style dates">O.S.</a> January 6, 1705]<sup id="cite_ref-Engber_1-0" class="reference"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Franklin#cite_note-Engber-1">[1]</a></sup> – April 17, 1790) was a renowned <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymath" title="Polymath">polymath</a> and one of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Founding_Fathers_of_the_United_States" title="Founding Fathers of the United States">Founding Fathers of the United States</a>. Franklin was a leading author, printer, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_political_philosophers" title="List of political philosophers">political theorist</a>, politician, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freemason" class="mw-redirect" title="Freemason">freemason</a>, postmaster, scientist, inventor, humorist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat. As a scientist, he was a major figure in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Enlightenment" title="American Enlightenment">American Enlightenment</a> and the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_physics" title="History of physics">history of physics</a> for his discoveries and theories regarding electricity. As an inventor, he is known for the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightning_rod" title="Lightning rod">lightning rod</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bifocals" title="Bifocals">bifocals</a>, and the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_stove" title="Franklin stove">Franklin stove</a>, among other inventions.<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Franklin#cite_note-2">[2]</a></sup> He founded many civic organizations, including Philadelphia's fire department and the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Pennsylvania" title="University of Pennsylvania">University of Pennsylvania</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"></sup>
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<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference">Franklin follows exactly in Mather's footsteps. </sup></p>