Benjamin Franklin’s Major Contributions to the United States

Benjamin Franklin is an important figure in American History, and a person just about every American is familiar with. Most people recognize him as the face of a hundred dollar bill or remember the elementary school lesson of his kite in a storm discovering electricity. But Benjamin Franklin’s contributions span across a variety of fields. He was a scientist, an inventor, a printer, a philosopher, a musician, an economist, and of course a statesman. As an inventor, Franklin is responsible for many breakthroughs in a number of fields. The lighting rod, the Franklin Stove, the glass armonica and even the current day urinary catheter are all Franklin inventions.
Franklin never patented any of his inventions, instead his ideas as a service to the fellow human in the progression of society. Among these were:
- Poor Richard’s Almanack. Benjamin Franklin started publishing the annual Alamanac in 1733. It is best known for the witty phrases that live on in today’s vernacular.
- Bifocal Glasses. Widely used by many sight-challenged people today, bifocal glasses were created by Franklin to meet his own needs.
- Pay it forward. Many might remember the 90′s movie, but the concept of pay it forward was first conceptualized by Franklin in one of his many philosophical musings on social innovation.
- Refrigeration. On a hot day Franklin noticed he stayed cooler in a wet shirt than a dry one. This led to experiments which later led to the concept of cooling on a summer’s day.
Today he is recognized as one of America’s founding fathers, but there are less recognized productions that contribute to his lasting legacy.