0 Who Was Ben Franklin

Who Was Ben Franklin? By Dennis Brindell Fradin

Who Was Ben Franklin? Benjamin Franklin was a man of many talents. He was a statesman. Perhaps only George Washington did more than Ben Franklin did to free the United States from England. He was a scientist. For one thing, Ben discovered the nature of lightning. He was an inventor. Thanks to him, we have lightning rods and bifocal glasses.

He was an author. He wrote a famous book about his experiences. And people still use the phrase "Haste makes waste," and other sayings that Ben made popular. Ben did much more in his long life. He began America's first general hospital. He started one of America's first libraries. He helped create the United States Postal Service. Ben did so much that some people claimed he had magical powers. But he was a flesh-and-blood person. In fact, his life was often sad. As a youth he ran away from home because he was beaten. Later, he lived far away from his wife. And a fight over politics came between Ben and

his son. This is the true story of Ben Franklin— statesman, scientist, inventor, author, and human being.