He organized a debate club that became known as the American Philosophical Society. As a result of this club, Franklin started the first public library.
Ben Franklin was interested in the welfare of the citizens of the city of Philadelphia. He organized the first volunteer Fire Department. He invented a fire truck which was actually a cart with two hoses, one that went into the water and the other hose was held by a few people at the nozzle. Two to four people pumped the engine. He organized the first hospital in America. .
In 1753 Franklin was made deputy postmaster general for all the colonies. He made the postal service make money and operate effectively. Ben Franklin was an inventor. One of the most famous invention that he made was the Franklin stove. At that time, homes were drafty due to fireplaces that were not efficient. The stove that Franklin invented had a grate that stuck out into the room to be heated and radiated warmth in more directions. Franklin wanted his stove to be affordable by all people to be able to heat their homes. .
Even though Franklin was well known for his inventions, his most famous work was done in the field of electricity. On a stormy night, Franklin took a kite and tied a key onto it. He flew the kite into the storm clouds and brought an electrical charge down the wet strings of the kite. He touched the key and saw an electric spark. This proved that lightning was electricity. This led to other experiments with electricity and to a book about electricity. He won many awards for his work in the field of electricity. .
Long before the American Revolution, Benjamin Franklin worked hard to try to bond the colonies together. As the French and Indian War came near, Franklin was chosen as a delegate from Pennsylvania to the Albany Congress of 1745. He proposed the Albany Plan of Union which was a plan for unity of the colonies. The delegates approved the plan but the colonial legislatures and the British government didn't accept it.