How Ben Franklin put a charge into American independence- Harvard Gazette

"Franklin did experiments that provided the first convincing explanations of electricity, including its manifestation as lightning. Within the context of enthusiasm for science in the 18th century, this was important. His work in science gave Franklin unparalleled authority to defy a monarch who seemed to have become a tyrant, setting off the first political revolution in an age of revolutions that would continue into the early 19th century."

"Franklin was interested in science because he was ambitious and knew he needed some extraordinary accomplishment to achieve any kind of prominence."

Benjamin Franklin is widely recognized for his roles in the American Revolution, diplomacy, printing, and invention. However, historian Joyce Chaplin argues that Franklin's scientific achievements were central to his life and instrumental to American independence. During the 18th century, science gained significant cultural importance as Europe embraced Enlightenment ideals. Franklin established himself as one of the era's most prominent scientific minds, particularly through his 1751 pamphlet on electricity experiments. His groundbreaking work explaining electricity and lightning provided him with unparalleled authority and credibility. This scientific reputation became crucial, enabling Franklin to challenge monarchical authority and catalyze the first political revolution of an age of revolutions.

Read at Harvard Gazette