Benjamin Franklin Day 2024: Every year on January 17, on the anniversary of his birth, Benjamin Franklin Day is observed to honour one of the most important Founding Fathers of the United States. It is a time to recognize one of America's most illustrious and significant individuals and to think back on his many accomplishments and the influence he had on the world.
Who was Benjamin Franklin?
One of the most accomplished and significant figures of the American Enlightenment, Benjamin Franklin was born on January 17, 1706. He contributed greatly to science, literature, and politics. Franklin was a polymath who achieved success in a variety of fields, but he is best known for his experiments with electricity that contributed to the development of modern electrical science's guiding principles. Franklin was a successful inventor who is credited with creating several useful inventions, including the lightning rod and bifocal glasses, in addition to his role in helping to draft the United States Constitution.
Why is Benjamin Franklin Day celebrated?
Franklin led a full life, and his literary works, which are replete with virtues and good habits, can teach us many important lessons about life. Give it some thought and go over his daily schedule in particular. He is among the most inspirational individuals with extraordinary talents, and that fact alone is cause for celebration.
Benjamin Franklin Day is observed in some places, frequently as a way to recognize Franklin's numerous contributions to American society and culture, even though its origins are unknown.
Science: The most notable contribution made by Benjamin Franklin to the study of electricity was the creation of the lightning rod in 1752. He also created terms still used today in electronics, including "battery," "charge," "conductor," and "electrify." His scholarly writings contributed to the founding of the American Philosophical Society, the first organization of its kind in the colonies, in the 1740s. He also created the Franklin stove and bifocals.
Education: Franklin founded the Library Company of Philadelphia, the first subscription library, in 1731. His pamphlet on the importance of educating children in Pennsylvania led to the founding of the current University of Pennsylvania in 1741, which is still regarded as one of the best universities in the nation.
Civics: He began representing Pennsylvania in 1757, and by the 1770s, he had also been appointed the first American ambassador to France. Additionally, he was a member of the group of five people in charge of writing and signing the Declaration of Independence. He added being the country's first postmaster general to his resume, and after his passing, his image appeared on the country's first postage stamp.
What are the major inventions of Benjamin Franklin?
Franklin never filed for a single patent despite coming up with some of the most successful and well-known inventions of the modern era; he thought that ideas should be freely exchanged. Among Benjamin Franklin's most notable creations are:
- Swim fins (1717)
Being an avid swimmer, Franklin came up with the idea for swimming fins when he was just 11 years old. They were two oval pieces of wood that, when held in the hands, gave the user more propulsion through the water. Fins for his feet were another experiment, but they weren't as successful. He discussed his invention from childhood in an essay titled "On the Art of Swimming."
- Franklin/Pennsylvania stove (1741)
Franklin created a better method of heating rooms in 1742, perhaps because he was tired of the chilly winters in Pennsylvania. The metal-lined fireplace, which came to be known as the Franklin stove, was made to stand a few inches away from the chimney. An inverted siphon assisted in extracting more heat, and a hollow baffle at the back allowed the heat from the fire to mix with the air more quickly. Additionally, his creation generated less smoke than a conventional fireplace, making it even more appealing.
- Lightning rod (1750)
Franklin came up with a low-cost method to prevent houses from burning down using his knowledge of electricity. The rod served as a lightning strike's detour, sending electricity into the ground close to a structure. They quickly gained popularity, and even King George III installed one in his palatial residence. Since then, the lightning rod has undergone modifications, including one from Nikola Tesla.
- Flexible Catheter (1752)
Franklin's brother had kidney stones, which made it difficult for him to urinate. The inventor came up with a workable alternative to the painful rigid tube that doctors prescribed for their patients. Even now, people mostly use flexible catheters.
- 24-hour, three-wheel clock (1757)
A three-wheeled clock with the standard time of Hours, Minutes, and Seconds. In contrast to other clocks, he wanted to create a simpler clock.
- Glass armonica, (1762)
The Armonica, which is Italian for "harmony," became well-known right away, but by the 1820s it had all but disappeared. "Of all my creations, the glass armonica has brought me the most personal fulfilment." is what Franklin described the musical instrument he created in 1761.
- Bifocals (1784)
Franklin is credited with developing bifocals in his later years because he required corrective lenses to address two vision issues. The question of whether Benjamin Franklin invented bifocals or merely popularised them as an early adopter has come up recently.
- Long arm (extension arm) to reach high books (1786)
Franklin was a huge book aficionado. Reaching books on high shelves, though, was difficult. He designed and made an arm extender when he realized he couldn't reach the books on his library's top shelf. He gave this invention the name "long arm."
More than two centuries after his death, Franklin is still remembered for his life and legacy of scientific and political accomplishments, as well as his status as one of America's most influential Founding Fathers, on the $100 bill, warships, the names of numerous towns, countries, educational institutions, and corporations, as well as in numerous pop culture references and with a portrait in the Oval Office.
Check other important days and dates in January 2024