The following year Franklin wrote the world renowned Poor Richard's Almanack under the pen name Richard Saunders. I found it interesting how Franklin was reluctant to use his real name on his work. Did he have mixed thoughts about his work? I believe Franklin wanted his work to stand out and not the man behind it. In 1736 Franklin became clerk of the Pennsylvania General Assembly and the next year was appointed deputy postmaster of Philadelphia. He was doing what he had set out to do. .
From a young age Franklin was curious of the world around him and how it worked. Franklin had a love for science and founded the American Philosophical Society, an organization for the promotion of science, in 1743. "He created means to correct the excessive smoking of chimneys and invented, around 1744, the Franklin stove, which produced greater heat with reduced fuel consumption." In 1747 Franklin began his electrical experiments with a simple piece of equipment. "He worked on a "Leyden jar theory" and made the hypothesis that lightning is an electrical phenomenon." (Morgan). His plan was published in London and carried out in England and France prior to his "key" experiment with the kite in 1752. "In recognition of his scientific accomplishments, Franklin received honorary degrees from the University of Saint Andrews and the University of Oxford." He also became a fellow of the Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge and, in 1753, was awarded its Copley Medal for distinguished contributions to experimental science. Franklin also had a great influence on education in Pennsylvania. In 1749 he wrote Proposals Relating to the Education of Youth in Pennsylvania. Its publication led to the establishment of the Academy of Philadelphia, later to become the University of Pennsylvania in 1751.
Despite his impressive assistance to the fields of literature and science, Franklin's most notable contributions would be diplomatically and politically.
