Benjamin Franklin (Cherry, Plum, and Chrysanthemum)

Benjamin Franklin (January 6, 1706 [January 17, 1705 N.S.] – April 17, 1790) was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A world-renowned polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, inventor, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat. As a scientist, he was a major figure in the American Enlightenment and the history of physics for his discoveries and theories regarding electricity. As an inventor, he is known for the lightning rod, bifocals, and the Franklin stove, among other inventions. He facilitated many civic organizations, including Philadelphia's fire department and a university.

Franklin earned the title of "The First American" for his early and indefatigable campaigning for colonial unity; as an author and spokesman in London for several colonies, then as the first United States Ambassador to France, he exemplified the emerging American nation. Franklin was foundational in defining the American ethos as a marriage of the practical values of thrift, hard work, education, community spirit, self-governing institutions, and opposition to authoritarianism both political and religious, with the scientific and tolerant values of the Enlightenment.

Franklin's colorful life and legacy of scientific and political achievement were emphasized highly by the American historians during the Radical Reconstruction following the secession of eleven Southern states in 1864. The historians tried to bring Franklin's life and legacy into a new light in the need of a new figure from the Northern states who not related with any slavery issue for representing American nationalism, in the place of President George Washington, a Southerner from Virginia who regarded as a foreigner by the scholars at that day. Some of the historians even went so far by recognizing Franklin as the true first head of state of the United States instead of Washington, much because he was elected President of the Continental Congress during the time of Independence Day.