Benjamin Franklin best known for his radical inventions, his hand in forming these United States and his devout affiliation to the city of Philadelphia. But what some people often forget is that Ben Franklin is one of our own. That’s right. The foremost Renaissance man of the colonial age was born and bred in Boston before making his bones in Philly. On this day in Boston history, a good 306 years ago, we celebrate the birthday of our brethren Ben Franklin.
Franklin’s storied career, which spans nearly every discipline and area of knowledge, is so celebrated that in fact there are a collection of his inventions still put to use today. So to help ring in this native Bostonians birthday, here are five fun facts you might not have known about Benny “The Jet” Franklin (Sandlot anyone?).
1. He pretended to be a woman
Not in a drag kind of way but he did moonlight as an old, backwoods New England woman. When he was apprenticed to his brother at The New-England Courant, he tried to have his own original content published but his brother, not quite as open-minded as, say, BostInno, refused to print his brother’s goods. So, rather than just submit to his brother’s whim, what did he do? Naturally, he submitted articles under the guise of Silence Dogood, a middle-aged woman. All in all, he had 14 letters published under the pseudonym.
2. He charted the Gulf Stream, #nbd
That’s right. Before anyone had any understanding of what the gulf stream was or why Atlantic ocean currents were acting the fool, Ben Franklin decided to chart them himself. Supposedly British merchants were confused and annoyed as to why it took longer to reach New York Harbor than Newport, Rhode Island. So Ben, ever the academic, coupled whaling migration patterns with the likes of water temperature and the speed of bubbles on its surface to realize the pattern of the mighty, mighty Atlantic and dubbed it, aptly, the Gulf Stream.
3. You use his inventions hundreds of years later
Universally Franklin is known as “the man who tamed lightning” for his famous experiment conducting electricity using a kite and key. But did you know he conceived the lightning rod? You know, the metallic spear which sits atop skyscrapers in order to direct lightning strikes down through the ground. He’s also credited with inventing bifocals – dual-lensed glasses for the near and farsighted. Oh, and he created the first public lending library, a economic version of wood stoves, and the glass armonica – which you can find historians playing in Boston’s North End around the Paul Revere mall.
4. You use his anecdotes hundreds of years later
While still an up an coming polymath, Franklin published his Poor Richard’s Almanack. In it he included numerous sensical maxims such as “a penny saved is a penny earned,” “fish and guests stink after three days,” and “Wine…a constant proof that God loves us, and loves to see us happy.” Insightful and still true to this day.
5 His greatest failure was his family
With all of his accomplishments, accolades, and fame Ben Franklin’s greatest failure was with his family. Prior to her death, his wife credited her fatal illness to “dis satisfid distresed att your staying so much longer” than anticipated. Translation? She was depressed as his diplomatic missions to France lasting longer than anticipated and was thought to have been dying of a broken heart. He also had a falling out with his illegitimate son William who, after securing an appointment as Governor of New Jersey, refused to relinquish his loyalist sentiments while Ben began adopting revolutionary notions. Their differences were irreconcilable.
On that happy note, let’s all raise a glass or ten to Ben Franklin’s unparalleled contributions to our contemporary life and help in making America what we know and love today. Happy Birthday, Ben!
