Skip to main content

Observation

Society: IEEE Main Category: Electrical Sub Category: Fields, Waves & Electromagnetics Era: 1750-1799 DateCreated: 1751 American Philosophical Society Library Philadelphia State: PA Zip: 19106 Country: USA Website: http://www.ieeeghn.org/wiki/index.php/Milestones:Book_%E2%80%9CExperiments_and_Observations_on_Electricity%E2%80%9D_by_Benjamin_Franklin,_1751 Creator: Franklin, Benjamin
In 1751 Benjamin Franklin published “Experiments and Observations on Electricity, Made at Philadelphia in America.” Experiments summarized in this booklet determined the existence of positive and negative charges, and the difference between insulators and conductors. This work led to the invention of the lightning rod. Its complete construction was popularized in Poor Richard’s Almanack in 1753. This is the first practical engineering application of electricity. A unifying theory covering static electricity, lightning, and stored charge was invented.
YearAdded:
2009
Image Credit: Public Domain (Author's Choice) Image Caption: "Experiments and Observations on Electricity" by Benjamin Franklin, currently located at the American Philosophical Society Library Era_date_from: 1751
Subscribe to Observation
In 1751 Benjamin Franklin published “Experiments and Observations on Electricity, Made at Philadelphia in America.” Experiments summarized in this booklet determined the existence of positive and negative charges, and the difference between insulators and conductors. This work led to the invention… Read More

We hope you enjoyed this essay.

Please support this 70-year tradition of trusted historical writing and the volunteers that sustain it with a donation to American Heritage.

Donate

Stay informed - subscribe to our newsletter.
The subscriber's email address.