by Dawn Hawkins

Created on: July 14, 2008   Last Updated: February 24, 2011

Benjamin Franklin was one of the most innovative men of his time. His was an inventor, a politician of sorts and one of the founding fathers of the United States. He held strong beliefs and fought for what he believed in. One of the main considerations when discussing Benjamin Franklin is to understand that he was willing to put his life on the line for the freedom of the United States from British rule. The legacy that Benjamin Franklin left will continue to echo throughout the United States and around the world for centuries to come.

Franklin left an indelible mark on the world.  He was not, by any stretch of the imagination, a basic man though. He was self-taught, pushing the conventions of his modern day society. Mr. Franklin was born in Boston, Massachusetts on January 17, 1706. Some seventy years later, he would be part of one of the most pivotal moments in American history, the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Benjamin Franklin was one of the United States founding fathers. He played keynotes in the drafting and signing of the Declaration of Independence. This is probably one of the most important legacies left by this man of honorable and moral character. Although he did not draft the Declaration of Independence, he was involved in much of the wording that eventually became the Declaration of Independence that we know today.

Ben Franklin was not only known for his role in the Declaration of Independence. He was also very interested in science. He is credited with having invented the lightening rod. Benjamin Franklin enjoyed experimenting. He could not have known that a simple child's toy would lead to one of the greatest invention of modern times. Playing with a toy meant for a child, he discovered something that would lead to the electricity that people take for granted in today's world.  Benjamin Franklin invented many different things, but the discovery of the lightening rod would change the very face of how the world operated.

It is through the 'Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin' that he allows us to enter his world. He is very candid in his comments about the world and himself. It is through this book that he reveals his inability to become perfect in every respect. He felt that since he knew the difference between right and wrong that he would easily be able to choose the correct one therefore only making perfect decisions. Through this experience, he learned that it is not always that clear cut. He learned that often in life

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