Benjamin Franklin th century American scientist inventor and statesman Franklin was a member of the committee which drafted the Declaration of Independence in Trained as a printer first in his familys firm in Boston and later in England he became a notable publisher but is now better known as one of the founders of the science of electricity Franklin became interested in the principles of electricity in and published Experiments and Observations on electricity in London in He was responsible for several inventions including the lightning conductor and bifocal spectacles Engraving after Joseph Siffred Duplessis