Ben Franklin Discover Electricity - It is the common belief that Ben Franklin "discovered" it.
In fact, electricity did not begin when Benjamin Franklin flew his kite during a thunderstorm or when light bulbs were installed in houses all around the world.
While on a visit to Boston in 1746 Franklin witnessed some electrical
experiments performed by a Mr. Spence, recently arrived from Scotland. Shortly
after his return to Philadelphia the Library Company received from Mr.
Collinson, of London, and a member of the Royal Society, a glass tube, with
instructions for making experiments with it. With this tube Franklin began a
course of experiments which resulted in discoveries which, humanly speaking,
seem to be exerting a larger material influence upon the industries of the
world than any other discovery of the human intellect. Dr. Stuber, then a
resident of Philadelphia, and author of the first continuation of Franklin's
Life, who seems to have enjoyed peculiar opportunities of obtaining full and
authentic information upon the subject, gives us the following account of the
observations which this letter brought for the first time to the notice of the
world through Mr. Collinson.
"His observations," says Dr. Stuber, "he communicated, in a series of
letters, to his friend Collinson, the first of which is dated March 28, 1747.
In these he shows the power of points in drawing and throwing off the
electrical matter which had hitherto escaped the notice of electricians. He
also made the grand discovery of a plus and minus, or of a positive and
negative, state of electricity. We give him the honor of this without
hesitation; although the English have claimed it for their countryman, Dr.
Watson. Watson's paper is dated January 21, 1748; Franklin's July 11, 1747,
several months prior. Shortly after Franklin, from his principles of the plus
and minus state, explained in a satisfactory manner the phenomena of the
Leyden vial, first observed by Mr. Cuneus, or by Professor Muschenbroeck, of
Leyden, which had much perplexed philosophers. He showed clearly that when
charged the bottle contained no more electricity than before, but that as much
was taken from one side as was thrown on the other; and that to discharge it
nothing was necessary but to produce a communication between the two sides, by
which the equilibrium might be restored, and that then no sign of electricity
would remain. He afterward demonstrated by experiments that the electricity
did not reside in the coating, as had been supposed, but in the pores of the
glass itself. After a vial was charged he removed the coating, and found that
upon applying a new coating the shock might still be received. In the year
1749 he first suggested his idea of explaining the phenomena of thunder-gusts
and of the aurora borealis upon electrical principles. He points out many
particulars in which lightning and electricity agree, and he adduces many
facts, and reasonings from facts, in support of his positions.
"In the same year he received the astonishingly bold and grand idea of
ascertaining the truth of his doctrine by actually drawing down the lightning,
by means of sharp-pointed iron rods raised into the region of the clouds.
Even in this uncertain state his passion to be useful to mankind displayed
itself in a powerful manner. Admitting the identity of electricity and
lightning, and knowing the power of points in repelling bodies charged with
electricity, and in conducting their fires silently and imperceptibly, he
suggested the idea of securing houses, ships, etc., from being damaged by
lightning, by erecting pointed rods that should rise some feet above the most
elevated part, and descend some feet into the ground or water. The effect of
these he concluded would be either to prevent a stroke by repelling the cloud
beyond the striking distance, or by drawing off the electrical fire which it
contained; or, if they could not effect this, they would at least conduct the
electric matter to the earth without any injury to the building.
"It was not till the summer of 1752 that he was enabled to complete his
grand and unparalleled discovery by experiment. The plan which he had
originally proposed was to erect, on some high tower or other elevated place,
a sentry-box, from which should rise a pointed iron rod, insulated by being
fixed in a cake of resin. Electrified clouds passing over this would, he
conceived, impart to it a portion of their electricity, which would be
rendered evident to the senses by sparks being emitted when a key, the
knuckle, or other conductor was presented to it. Philadelphia at this time
afforded no opportunity of trying an experiment of this kind. While Franklin
was waiting for the erection of a spire, it occurred to him that he might have
more ready access to the region of clouds by means of a common kite. He
prepared one by fastening two cross sticks to a silken handkerchief, which
would not suffer so much from the rain as paper. To the upright stick was
affixed an iron point. The string was, as usual, of hemp, except the lower
end, which was silk. Where the hempen string terminated, a key was fastened.
With this apparatus, on the appearance of a thunder-gust approaching he went
out into the commons, accompanied by his son, to whom alone he communicated
his intentions, well knowing the ridicule which, too generally for the
interest of science, awaits unsuccessful experiments in philosophy. He placed
himself under a shed, to avoid the rain; his kite was raised, a thunder-cloud
passed over it, no sign of electricity appeared. He almost despaired of
success, when suddenly he observed the loose fibres of his string to move
toward an erect position. He now presented his knuckle to the key and
received a strong spark. How exquisite must his sensations have been at this
moment! On this experiment depended the fate of his theory. If he succeeded,
his name would rank high among those who had improved science; if he failed,
he must inevitably be subjected to the derision of mankind, or, what is worse,
their pity, as a well-meaning man, but a weak, silly projector. The anxiety
with which he looked for the result of his experiment may be easily conceived.
Doubts and despair had begun to prevail, when the fact was ascertained, in so
clear a manner that even the most incredulous could no longer withhold their
assent. Repeated sparks were drawn from the key, a vial was charged, a shock
given, and all the experiments made which are usually performed with
electricity.
"About a month before this period some ingenious Frenchman had completed
the discovery in the manner originally proposed by Dr. Franklin. The letters
which he sent to Mr. Collinson, it is said, were refused a place in the
Transactions of the Royal Society of London. However this may be, Collinson
published them in a separate volume, under the title of New Experiments and
Observations on Electricity, made at Philadelphia, in America. They were read
with avidity, and soon translated into different languages. A very incorrect
French translation fell into the hands of the celebrated Buffon, who,
notwithstanding the disadvantages under which the work labored, was much
pleased with it, and repeated the experiments with success. He prevailed on
his friend, M. Dalibard, to give his countrymen a more correct translation of
the works of the American electrician. This contributed much toward spreading
a knowledge of Franklin's principles in France. The King, Louis XV, hearing
of these experiments, expressed a wish to be a spectator of them. A course of
experiments was given at the seat of the Duc d'Ayen, at St. Germain, by M. de
Lor. The applause which the King bestowed upon Franklin excited in Buffon,
Dalibard, and De Lor an earnest desire of ascertaining the truth of his theory
of thunder-gusts. Buffon erected his apparatus on the tower of Montbar, M.
Dalibard at Marly-la-Ville, and De Lor at his house in the Estrapade at Paris,
some of the highest ground in that capital. Dalibard's machine first showed
signs of electricity. On May 16, 1752, a thunder-cloud passed over it, in the
absence of M. Dalibard, and a number of sparks were drawn from it by Coiffier,
joiner, with whom Dalibard had left directions how to proceed and by M.
Paulet, the prior of Marly-la-Ville.
"An account of this experiment was given to the Royal Academy of
Sciences, by M. Dalibard, in a memoir dated May 13, 1752. On May 18th, M. de
Lor proved equally as successful with the apparatus erected at his own house.
These philosophers soon excited those of other parts of Europe to repeat the
experiment; among whom none signalized themselves more than Father Beccaria,
of Turin, to whose observations science is much indebted. Even the cold
regions of Russia were penetrated by the ardor of discovery. Professor
Richmann bade fair to add much to the stock of knowledge on this subject, when
an unfortunate flash from his conductor put a period to his existence.
"By these experiments Franklin's theory was established in the most
convincing manner.
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