BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

 

Ben was his dad's 15th child of 17 total children. In the 1740s, Benjamin Franklin conducted experiments that contributed to the understanding of electricity, and invented the lightning rod, which protected buildings from fires caused by lightning.

 

In 1752, he conducted his famous kite experiment and demonstrated that lightning is electricity. Franklin also coined a number of electricity-related terms, including battery, charge and conductor. He didn't patent any of his many inventions.

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Ben Franklin was the first Postmaster General of the United States. Later in life, Ben set his slaves free and became a fighter for the freedom of slaves.