During a time when colonial American culture was just beginning to develop, very few citizens were concerned with contributing to this blossoming civilization. Benjamin Franklin, whether he knew it at the time or not, was one of the exceptions. An inventor, printer, scientist, poet, Postmaster General, philosopher, politician, economist, ambassador, and author, Franklin contributed to many aspects of the prospering American colonies' culture. Many Englishmen as well as colonists knew him as the ideal American. Though Franklin was responsible for many advancements in colonial society, he was especially influential as a scientist, author, and ambassador.

Ben Franklin, the scientist, was very able as well as versatile in the field, and his interests included electricity, mathematics, medicine, meteorology, astronomy, oceanography, invention, and countless other areas of research (Wertenbaker 69). Science, though very rarely studied by most early colonial Americans, was a field in which Franklin was well recognized by many scientists throughout Europe and received many awards therein. For instance, in 1753, the Royal Society awarded him the Copley medal, and Oxford Univers

Another way Franklin boosts Americanism is through his ambassadorship to several European countries. Though his purpose was otherwise, many Europeans regarded hem as the standard American. During his first journeys to England, he maintained an Englishman's outlook, mainly concerned with the provincial politics of Pennsylvania. It was not until the issues of unlawful Parliamentary taxation, that Franklin became known as a celebrated spokesman for American rights in Britain (Charleton 148). He also spent about seven years in France. The main goal of this voyage was to form an alliance with the French against Britain. He gained a wide range of recognition in France and was also the embodiment of the typical American. He gave Americans a good name in France because he was well respected by many Frenchmen. During his final journey to Britain, in 1783, Franklin negotiated the Treaty of Paris with the British in order to secure American independence (Schoenbrun 389). Without this contribution, Americans would not have the same freedom that they experience today. Franklin's diplomacy served both the Europeans as well as Americans, past and present.

At age 22, Franklin composed his own epitaph filled with twisted humor which read: "The body of B. Franklin, Printer (Like the Cover of an Old Book Its Contents Torn Out And Script of its Lettering and Gilding) Lies Here, Food for Worms. But the Wo

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Approximate Word count = 948
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)