Posted on 04/17/2005 10:47:30 AM PDT by kellynla
I like his decimal system, too.
I did before I encountered the LC system. I think it’s superior, and easier to remember.
We were fortunate to have both Benjamin Franklin and Alexander Hamilton as founding fathers. Neither was ever president, Hamilton because he wasn’t eligible and Franklin, not sure why he wasn’t. He was highly valued as an advisor to our early presidents.
Benjamin was one of the smartest founding fathers. He only had a couple of years of formal schooling but was well educated in those years and learned more on his own. Many students now are illiterate and inumerate but Franklin in two years was reading English and translating Latin. He had many useful inventions, including bifocals and the Franklin stove and he even invented ways to print paper money (new to the colonies) in a way that twarted counterfeiters.
When Franklin died he left IIRC about $2,000 to both Boston and Philadelphia to provide loans to young men to start their own businesses. Philadelphia apparently spent the money on other things but I think Boston still has that loan program.
Hamilton, unfortunately, had some kind of musical written about him. It has overshadowed the tremendous contributions he made to our country, especial its banking and financial system. Look on the stock market for the listing BK. Bank of New York was founded by Hamilton in 1784. That bank is still in existence with the same original Stock Market call letters.
Thank you. I’m a great fan of Franklin.
I especially like his “glass armonica”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57-JQlwRDqc
He was one of the most extraordinary human beings the world has ever known. Born into the family of a Boston candle maker, Benjamin Franklin became the most famous American of his time. He helped found a new nation and defined the American character. Writer, inventor, diplomat, businessman, musician, scientist, humorist, civic leader, international celebrity . . . genius!
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