Worldly Influence
It is difficult to say whether the Revolutionary War would have been won without Benjamin Franklin. He used diplomatic skills to adjudicate treaties with France, Great Britain, Germany, Sweden, and Spain after serving as an ambassador in France, starting 1776. His presence in France was honored by people of all statuses. Even Franklin himself was astonished by his fame; he said, "My picture is everywhere, on the lids of snuff boxes, on rings, busts. The numbers sold are incredible. My portrait is a best seller, you have prints, and copies of prints and copies of copies spread everywhere." But France was not the great tourist attraction it is today; in those times, France was a country of poverty. With Franklin's diplomacy and France's bitterness toward England, the colonies and France became allies. When Franklin died a few years after leaving France, it was the French who mourned him. Some believe that the French think Franklin was a U.S. President, for they said, "He was the best president you ever had!" It is clear that Franklin was just as much of a symbol of wisdom and hope to the French as he was to the Americans.
Though he lived in the city, Franklin's knowledge of agriculture was extensive. He introduced foreign plants to both Europe and America, as well as printed numerous books on the subject of agriculture and botany. His most well-known book is Poor Richard's Almanack, which recorded the best times for planting which crops alongside other helpful notes. Franklin also helped improve postal service in the colonies. In his time, a letter could take up to two weeks to travel between cities, and transatlantic mail was far longer. One could never be sure if their mail reached its destination. Franklin was appointed Postmaster of Philadelphia in 1737, Joint Postmaster General of the colonies for the Crown in 1753, and Postmaster for the United Colonies in 1775; much of the U.S Postal system was influenced by him and his invention of the odometer.
Though he lived in the city, Franklin's knowledge of agriculture was extensive. He introduced foreign plants to both Europe and America, as well as printed numerous books on the subject of agriculture and botany. His most well-known book is Poor Richard's Almanack, which recorded the best times for planting which crops alongside other helpful notes. Franklin also helped improve postal service in the colonies. In his time, a letter could take up to two weeks to travel between cities, and transatlantic mail was far longer. One could never be sure if their mail reached its destination. Franklin was appointed Postmaster of Philadelphia in 1737, Joint Postmaster General of the colonies for the Crown in 1753, and Postmaster for the United Colonies in 1775; much of the U.S Postal system was influenced by him and his invention of the odometer.