Ben Franklin Day

Today America celebrates one of our Founding Fathers, Benjamin Franklin. Born to a candle and soap maker on this day in 1705, Franklin became an inventor, printer, scientist, diplomat and all-around genius. Known for inventing bifocals (out of necessity), the lightning rod, odometer, swim fins, catheter and the Franklin stove, Franklin also established Philadelphia’s first subscription library, police force and fire department. Love it or not so much, Franklin is also credited as coming up with the idea of Daylight Saving Time.

Using the pseudonym Richard Saunders, this extraordinary man also published Poor Richard’s Almanack which included weather forecasts and many of Franklin’s witty sayings and quotes. Benjamin Franklin died in 1790. He was 84.

January 17 is also Customer Service Day and National Hot Buttered Rum Day.