Benjamin Franklin Day: 5 Major Accomplishments Of The Legendary American Polymath

Benjamin Franklin Day on Jan. 17 is a mark of respect to the great intellectual thinker who also donned the hats of a philosopher, scientist, diplomat, printer, publisher, and, most importantly, one of the founding fathers credited with drafting the United States Declaration of Independence.

His imagery on $100 bills, also known as "Benjamins" is a testament to his political stature. Being a true visionary, Franklin forged his path to success by implementing his ideas for the greater social benefit.

Benjamin Franklin Day, which is the birth anniversary of the man of the highest caliber, tells how people born into the humblest circumstances can achieve exemplary success and make contributions to society to be revered through generations.

Author Joseph Ellis detailed Franklin's deep-seated influence in 20th-century America in his Pulitzer Prize-winning historical piece, suggesting that the man had his fingers in many important pies.

"If a 20th-century photographer had managed to commandeer a time machine and travel back to record the historic scenes of the revolutionary era, Franklin would have been present in almost every picture," Ellis wrote in the highly acclaimed non-fiction "Founding Brothers."

"In Philadelphia during the Continental Congress and the signing of the Declaration of Independence; in Paris to draft the wartime treaty with France and then almost singlehandedly (assist to John Adams) conclude the peace treaty with Great Britain; in Philadelphia again for the Constitutional Convention and the signing of the Constitution," he wrote about Franklin.

On his birthday, listed below are 5 of Franklin's major achievements (Courtesy: learnodo.com)

• Benjamin Franklin was the creator of the first published political cartoon in the U.S. which was published in The Pennsylvania Gazette.
• He published the famous "Poor Richard's Almanack" which bought him both fame and economic success.
• A scientist in his own right, Franklin channeled his years of research on electricity into creating the "lightning rod" which protects structures by earthing.
• He supported the repealing of the stamp act of 1756, which catapulted him to the position of leading spokesman for American interests in England.
• Franklin was named the first United States Postmaster General given his illustrious experience in the field after having served his stint as postmaster of Philadelphia by the British Crown Post from 1737-53.