Biography:US Founding Father Benjamin Franklin worked his way up from working class origins to prominence as a writer and publisher of newspapers before becoming a voice for American interests in Europe and Ambassador to France.
He one of the Committee of Five that drafted the US Declaration of Independence and became the US's first Postmaster General in 1776.
An abolitionist toward the end of this life, he freed his two slaves.
As a scientist and inventor Franklin conducted famous electricity experiments, invented the lightning rod, bifocals and the Franklin stove.
1730-09-01 US Founding Father Benjamin Franklin establishes a common-law marriage with Deborah Read
Historical Events
1725-01-04 Benjamin Franklin arrives in London [OS=Dec 24 1724]
1726-07-23 Benjamin Franklin sails back to Philadelphia
1726-10-11 Benjamin Franklin returns to Philadelphia from England
1731-11-08 In Philadelphia, Benjamin Franklin opens 1st library in the north American colonies, the Library Company of Philadelphia
1732-12-28 Benjamin Franklin under the pseudonym Richard Saunders begins publication of "Poor Richard's Almanack"
1741-02-16 Benjamin Franklin begins publishing "The General Magazine and Historical Chronicle for all the British Plantations in America"
1742-06-11 Benjamin Franklin invents his Franklin stove
1751-05-11 Pennsylvania Hospital founded by Dr. Thomas Bond and Benjamin Franklin, in Philadelphia
1752-06-10 Benjamin Franklin tests the lightning conductor with his kite-flying experiment
1753-11-30 Benjamin Franklin receives the Godfrey Copley medal "on account of his curious Experiments and Observations on Electricity"
1773-09-11 Benjamin Franklin writes "There never was a good war or bad peace"
1773-09-22 Benjamin Franklin publishes a hoax letter "An Edict by the King of Prussia" in the Public Advertiser, criticising Britain's colonial policies in the American colonies
1775-07-26 US Continental Congress creates United States Post Office (U.S.P.O.) in Philadelphia under Benjamin Franklin
Fridtjof Nansen
Hillary Clinton
John Foster Dulles
Madeleine Albright
Owen D. Young
Trygve Lie