Dr.BenjaminFranklinwasoneoftheFoundingFathersoftheUnitedStates.Anotedpolymath,Franklinwasaleadingauthor,printer,politicaltheorist,politician,postmaster,scientist,musician,inventor,satirist,civicactivist,statesman,anddiplomat.Asascientist,hewasamajorfigureintheAmericanEnlightenmentandthehistoryofphysicsforhisdiscoveriesandtheoriesregardingelectricity.Heinventedthelightningrod,bifocals,theFranklinstove,acarriageodometer,andtheglass'armonica'.HeformedboththefirstpubliclendinglibraryinAmericaandthefirstfiredepartmentinPennsylvania.

　　Franklinearnedthetitleof"TheFirstAmerican"forhisearlyandindefatigablecampaigningforcolonialunity;asanauthorandspokesmaninLondonforseveralcolonies,thenasthefirstUnitedStatesAmbassadortoFrance,heexemplifiedtheemergingAmericannation.FranklinwasfoundationalindefiningtheAmericanethosasamarriageofthepracticalanddemocraticvaluesofthrift,hardwork,education,communityspirit,self-governinginstitutions,andoppositiontoauthoritarianismbothpoliticalandreligious,withthescientificandtolerantvaluesoftheEnlightenment.InthewordsofhistorianHenrySteeleCommager,"InaFranklincouldbemergedthevirtuesofPuritanismwithoutitsdefects,theilluminationoftheEnlightenmentwithoutitsheat."