Community Chat

[beach-mom]

Interesting @AuntMame. I knew he was a "ladies' man," and I knew he spent years in France. When I studied there I saw paintings of him in the various museums in Paris.

But I didn't know much else about him, except "he had his fingers in a lot of pies"! And of course I know the kite story. I've been to the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia a number of times. Living with two science nerds I learned that was like going to Disney World to them! 


@San Antonio Gal - @beckyb1012 already answered, but I was going to guess 40-50. 

[AuntMame]

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@beach-mom wrote:

Interesting @AuntMame. I knew he was a "ladies' man," and I knew he spent years in France. When I studied there I saw paintings of him in the various museums in Paris.

But I didn't know much else about him, except "he had his fingers in a lot of pies"! And of course I know the kite story. I've been to the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia a number of times. Living with two science nerds I learned that was like going to Disney World to them! 


@San Antonio Gal - @beckyb1012 already answered, but I was going to guess 40-50. 

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How wonderful to study in France and to see all the great paintings first-hand! I bet you have a lot of wonderful memories. 

Franklin was certainly an interesting polymath. I recently finished a book "The Franklin Stove: An Unintended American Revolution." The claim to fame of Franklin's stove was that it utilized far less fuel than other stoves, while heating homes more uniformly. He expended a lot of time and effort promoting it in Paris, as home heating fuel was dear due to the countryside around the city having been de-forested. Growing iron-works, founderies, etc. required massive amounts of fuel, and resulted in de-forestation in both the U.S. and Europe. So it became harder for people to heat their homes. Hence Franklin's economical stove. 

Unfortunately it never caught on in Paris. 

Amazing guy. The Franklin Institute sounds fabulous. I will put it on my bucket list. 

If I recall correctly, Franklin had a long-term gal-pal in Paris. As they all did... 

[sunshine45]

his life would make a fantastic musical! LOL

[Laura14]

@AuntMame Please go to the Franklin Institute! Walking through the human heart was the highlight of every class trip I ever took there and that was before the internet. It's an amazing place!