Brother Benjamin Franklin

January 17th 1706 – April 17th 1790

Member of:

St. John’s Lodge #1 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Later Affiliated with

Lodge of the Nine Sisters, Paris, France

was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A renowned polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, Freemason, postmaster, scientist, inventor, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat. As a scientist, he was a major figure in the American Enlightenment and the history of physics for his discoveries and theories regarding electricity. As an inventor, he is known for the lightning rod, bifocals, and the Franklin stove, among other inventions. He facilitated many civic organizations, including Philadelphia’s fire department and a university.