Benjamin Franklin was the son of a tradesman in Boston who rose to fame as a printer, writer and publisher. He was also very interested in science and is well known for his many inventions such as the Franklin stove, bi-focal glasses and one of his greatest discoveries that lightning was electricity and learned to harness that power with the invention of a lightning rod. He is also well known as one of the Founding Fathers of the new American nation and helped to write the Declaration of Independence and frame the United States Constitution. He was also our ambassador to France requesting help from them to assist the struggling colonies.