8Benjamin Franklin was a writer, Founding Father, scientist, and inventor! He not only invented new things--like bifocals and the armonica--but also improved on inventions others had made. In this informative volume, readers learn about why and how he invented the lightning rod, including key facts about the kite experiment. Additional relevant information about Franklin's life shows readers how influential he was in his time and how his legacy lives on today in both inventions and his role in the creation of the young United States.