Interesting Facts: Interesting Facts about Benjamin Franklin

Born: January 17 [Jan. 6, Old Style], 1706
Died: April 17, 1790

As a scientist, he is best known for his experiments with electricity. As a writer, he is known for Poor Richard's Almanac and his autobiography. He was the oldest figure of the American Revolution. Franklin also was the only person to sign the three documents that established the United States: the Declaration of Independence, the peace treaty with Britain that ended the Revolutionary War, and the Constitution.

Fun Facts about Ben Franklin

He actually had two birthdays. Franklin's birth certificate says that he was born on January 6, 1706, but on September 2, 1752 the British colonies changed to a different calendar. Over time, calendars no longer line up with seasons and adjustments must be made to make sure that seasons happen in the right month. That is why we have leap year. Therefore, at midnight on September 2, 1752, it legally became September 14 and Franklin's new birthday became January 17.
His picture has been on every $100 bill minted since 1928.
Franklin thought the turkey should be the national bird, rather than the bald eagle. He wrote in a letter to his daughter, Sarah, in 1784 that the turkey is more respectable than eagles and a true native of the United States.
He taught himself five different languages: Latin, German, Spanish, Italian and French.
Franklin crossed the Atlantic Ocean eight times and spent 27 years of his life living in other countries.

Amazing Facts about Benjamin Franklin

Ben earned lots of money, but he could have earned a lot more if he had patented his inventions. He never once patented any of his inventions.
Ben Franklin was the first American to invent an instrument, the armonica.
Ben Franklin was bad at math!
Ben Franklin taught himself how to swim when he was eight, and often taught his friends how to swim. At one time he considered opening up a swim school.
At the age of 16 Ben Franklin read a book about vegetable diets and decided to become a vegetarian.
While working in London, Ben got the nickname "Water-American," because he drank water instead of beer like almost everyone else.
Ben Franklin convinced the Pennsylvania Assembly to switch from coins to paper currency because coins were hard to come by and cumbersome.
Ben wrote a letter that convinced Congress to publicly debate slavery for the first time.
After writing and publishing Poor Richard's Almanac and The Way to Wealth, Ben Franklin became so wealthy that he was able to retire from printing in his early forties.
Ben liked to take "air baths." He would sit naked in his bathtub and let the cold air from an open window clean away any germs!
Ben Franklin founded the prestigious Ivy League school, the University of Pennsylvania.
Ben nearly electrocuted himself to death while trying to cook a turkey with electricity!
Ben helped Thomas Jefferson revise the Declaration of Independence.

10 Jobs Held by Ben Franklin
An interesting fact about Ben Franklin's life is that he had many different jobs. Here are ten jobs that he had in his career.

Printer
Writer
Politician
Inventor
Scientist
Volunteer firefighter
Librarian
Postmaster
Bookstore owner
Soldier in Philadelphia militia

Inventions
Ben Franklin invented many things that are still used today. Here are just a few of Franklin's inventions:

Bifocals
Lightning rod
Swimming fins
The Franklin stove, an iron fireplace that produced less smoke and used less wood.
Glass harmonica, a musical instrument