Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin was the youngest son of an English immigrant whose two marriages produced 17 children. His family could afford to send him to school for only two years, so Franklin was forced to become a self-educated man. His brilliance as an inventor produced a long list of innovations including the lightning rod, bifocals and the Franklin stove, none of which he patented. As a member of the Founding Fathers of the United States, he was one of the Committee of Five responsible for drafting the Declaration of Independence. His career as a printer, publisher and author gave him the means to publicize his views and gain respect for their common sense.
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