Benjamin Franklin born January 17, 1706

[Jack Rabbit]

Portrait of Franklin from the website of the Fire Marshall's Association of Minnesota
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[Rhiannon12866]

1. Thank you for this. A great painting of a great American. n/t

[moof]

2. there's never been a good war or a bad peace

n/t

[beawr]

3. MY FAVORITE FOUNDING FATHER

And I don't even particularly like Philadelphia.....

[Love Bug]

8. Mine, too!

Have you read the biography by Walter Isaacson? It's well worth the read.

[hlthe2b]

11. No, I need too, though I still hold a grudge against Isaacson

for his attitudes while running CNN. (I emailed him several times re: his solicitation of the RWers in Congress and how to turn CNN into Faux lite)

[maveric]

19. Was'nt he born in Boston?

I know that he is buried there.

[Catshrink]

20. Yes born in Boston

but I didn't know he was buried there. I thought he was buried in Philly.

[maveric]

21. Granary burial ground. Boston Common.

If I'm not mistaken.

[PhishWithLemon99]

22. Yes and No

He was born in Boston and came to Philadelphia at the age of 17, if I'm not mistaken. He is buried in the Christ Church Cemetery (I think that's the name) at 5th and Arch Street in Philadelphia. His grave is visible from that street corner, and is always covered in pennies thrown onto it from passers by. He died in 1790 and is buried next to his wife Deborah.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

4. Happy Birthday Ben!

:party::beer::party:

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.
-Benjamin Franklin

[rasputin1952]

5. Thanks for the reminder...

One of the great heroes of all time, one of the great minds of all time.

Some of the things we have Franklin to thank for:

The Postal System
Organized Fire Dept's
Affordable Printing
France entering the Revolution
Reconcilliation with England post Revolution
bifocals

add what you can think of, this man was far beyond his time!

O8)

[terrya]

7. I believe he founded the Library of America as well. eom

[Love Bug]

9. Don't forget his experiments with electricity!

He invented the lightning rod, an important invention at the time (and still is).

[Bertha Venation]

6. Dude Ben... you rock.

Clinton would never have been impeached if the impeachers had read their history. Franklin was the first great patriot who lllllloved the ladies.

[Lefty48197]

10. Happy Birthday to one great American!

:toast: I'm sure he'd appreciate the drink too!

[OneTwentyoNine]

12. He invented the $100.00 bill...

BTW,what happened to all those Franklins that were in the suitcase found with SH??


David

[Zomby Woof]

13. his influence is inestimable

In addition to the accomplishments listed above, he also proposed the public library system.

Read his autobiography first, before reading any biography.

[Michigander4Dean]

14. He doesn't look a day over 298. n-t

[Catshrink]

15. Beer is a sign that God loves us and wants us to be happy.

(hope I got that right)

[Zomby Woof]

16. I think it is!

There is a collection of his lesser known writings called "Fart Proudly", which contains many gems like that.

:hi: Catshrink!

[Catshrink]

18. I bought my nephew that book!

He loved it....

Beer is a very good thing. :toast: Zomby

[arwalden]

17. Happy Birthday! BTW...

two of my favorite Bewitched episodes feature Ben Franklin. (Aunt Clara was trying to conjure up an "electrician" and goofed.)

-- Allen

[PhishWithLemon99]

23. He founded the University of Pennsylvania...

as well as the library in Philadelphia, the fire department, and he invented the rocking chair. Happy Birthday Ben! :toast:

[Rhiannon12866]

24. Happy Birthday to a great man.

Apparently, several DU'ers share his birthday, a great honor. Happy Birthday, Ben, and thanks for everything!:party::party::party::party::party::party::party::party::party::party::party::party::party::party: