Benjamin Franklin

     Benjamin Franklin was an inventor and part of the early government. In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1752 he flew his kite during a thunderstorm to prove that lightning is a form of electricity. When lightning hit the kite, Franklin was knocked unconscious. After that wonderful experience with the lightning bolt, he invented the lightning rod to prevent lightning bolts hitting the building it was set on. Today you might see these rods on buildings around your city or town. People used to think that if you put one of these rods on your umbrella the electricity would go down the rod and into the ground. Franklin took many chances doing his experiments. Once he tried to see what would happen to a charged turkey. The result was that Benjamin knocked himself out.