Ben Franklin
The Paris Games' Mascot, the Olympic Phryge, Boasts a Little-Known Revolutionary Past
The Phrygian cap, also known as the liberty cap, emerged as a potent symbol in 18th-century America and France
Benjamin Franklin Was the Nation’s First Newsman
Before he helped launch a revolution, Benjamin Franklin was colonial America’s leading editor and printer of novels, almanacs, soap wrappers, and everything in between
The Real Story Behind Apple TV+'s 'Franklin'
A new limited series starring Michael Douglas as Benjamin Franklin revisits the founding father's years as the American ambassador to France
How Ben Franklin Invented the Library as We Know It
Books were rare and expensive in colonial America, but the founding father had an idea
This Russian Noblewoman, Beloved by Catherine the Great and Benjamin Franklin, Embodied the Age of Enlightenment
Princess Dashkova led research institutes, wrote plays and music, and embarked on a Grand Tour of 18th-century Europe
The Many Myths of the Boston Tea Party
Contrary to popular belief, the 1773 protest opposed a tax break, not a tax hike. And it didn't immediately unify the colonies against the British
The Masonic Murder That Inspired the First Third Party in American Politics
Public outcry over whistleblower William Morgan's disappearance gave rise to the Anti-Masonic Party, which nominated a candidate for president in 1832
Ben Franklin Lives in Your Smartphone
The 18th-century inventor discovered concepts that impact modern technology
When Benjamin Franklin Shocked Himself While Attempting to Electrocute a Turkey
The statesman was embarrassed by the mishap—no doubt a murder most fowl
Unraveling the Colonialist Myths of Nova Scotia
Planners saw the region as a blank space ripe for transformation: the perfect canvas for imperial fantasies
Secret 17th-Century Passageway Discovered in British House of Commons
Parliament has posted photos of its members and collaborators delighting in the discovery
Cache of Benjamin Franklin's Original Manuscripts—Doodles and All—Gets Digitized
The Library of Congress recently released approximately 8,000 letters, drafts and documents from the founding father
Welcome to Salem, Witches: "Timeless" Season 2, Episode 4, Recapped
Rescuing a very important American figure takes just a little tweaking of the historical record
What the Founding Fathers' Money Problems Can Teach Us About Bitcoin
The challenges faced by the likes of Ben Franklin have a number of parallels to today’s cryptocurrency boom
Ben Franklin May Be Responsible for Bringing Tofu to America
How a letter of 1770 may have ushered the Chinese staple into the New World
The Ben Franklin-Inspired Super Bowl Recipes You Never Knew You Needed
We don't know who Ben Franklin would root for, but we do know what he'd eat on Super Bowl Sunday
The Father of Modern Chemistry Proved Respiration Occurred by Freezing a Guinea Pig
Where he got the guinea pig from remains a mystery
What Led Benjamin Franklin to Live Estranged From His Wife for Nearly Two Decades?
A stunning new theory suggests that a debate over the failed treatment of their son's smallpox was the culprit
Benjamin Franklin Mocked Eclipse Astrology to Elevate Science
The founding father used his almanacs to promote a scientific understanding of celestial events—often with withering humor
What the First Three Patents Say About Early America
Gunpowder, fertilizer, soap, candles and flour were all important to Americans
Page 1 of 2