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= BENJAMIN FRANKLIN =

As a printer, author, diplomat, philosopher, and scientist, Benjamin Franklin will be known as one of America's greatest people of all time. I think he is a hero because he dedicated his life for the benefit of others. Like when he went to France for years to try to convince them to help us during the American Revolution. In addition, his many advances in science greatly improved society. One of his better-known achievements in the field of science was his discovery that lightning was electricity. Next to that, he also founded what is thought to be the first public library, so the less fortunate could expand their minds and learn by reading books. This great man's life began on January 17, 1706. As one of 17 children, Ben was apprenticed to his older brother James as a printer.

About a year later in 1730 upon his return home, he married a girl named Deborah Read. Being home gave Ben the opportunity to read more. Ben got so involved with reading that he organized the construction of the first ever public library in 1731. Now that he had read a lot of books, he started to write. He wrote books on philosophy and even a very funny book called "Poor Richard’s Almanac," which turned out to be a bestseller back then. When Franklin was in need of some money, Ben began a new career, this time as a scientist. In 1747, he started to perform small, scientific experiments in the basement of his house. Then in 1752, with the aid of his son William, Benjamin Franklin conducted experiments in electricity with his invention, the lightning rod , and also his famous kite experiment. These made him one of the most famous scientists of his day.