Georg Wilhelm Richmann (1711-1754)

Professor Georg Wilhelm Richmann, an eminent scientist born in Estonia. He then living in St. Petersburg, Russia, had become a member of the Petersburg Academy of Sciences in 1741.

Richmann was one of the first to undertake systematic studies of atmospheric electricity. He had already made fundamental contributions to thermometry theory and believed, long before many others, that heat resulted from the motion of minute particles.

He had studied electrical phenomena a good deal, was evidently inspired by Dalibar’s experiment, and determined to give a try.

In his studies of physics he devoted his time especially to the observation of electrical phenomena during thunderstorms. He had set up a device called a gnomon or electrometer for measuring the strength of electrical currents in the air. The device consisted of a glass vessel containing brass filings attached to an iron rod that extended from the vessel to the roof of Richmann’s house.

When on July 26, 1763, he heard distant thunder, Richmann hurried to his apparatus to measure the atmospheric electricity. When he bent over the terminal of the metallic conductor leading from the roof to his room, a whitish-blue ball of fire jumped the distance of one foot from the wire to Richmann’s head and he fell to the gorund, dead. He was the first scientist killed studying artificially induced lighting.
Georg Wilhelm Richmann (1711-1754)

Benjamin Franklin (January 17, 1706 – April 17, 1790)

Benjamin Franklin was a principal leader of the American Revolution. Before the war for independence Franklin earned fame as Philadelphia publisher and writer and world recognition as a scientist and inventor.

He was born in Boston. He was the 15th of 17th children. His father was a soap and candlemaker, who immigrated to United States from England.

At the age 12, Benjamin went to work as an apprentice to his older brother James who is a printer.

Benjamin Franklin

In 1723 Franklin moved to Philadelphia and worked as a printer. In 1724, he travelled to London, England to buy printing equipment. When he found himself stranded and without money, he went to work as a printer.

Benjamin was a great scientific thinker and inventor. He invented the Franklin stove, which was used to heat rooms, and a type of eyeglass called bifocals.  Benjamin also invented brighter street light, swim fins and library seats with built in stairs.

His experiments with electricity led to the invention of the lightning rod.

He served as deputy postmaster-general for the colonies and on the committee in the Second Continental Congress responsible for drafting the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
Benjamin Franklin (January 17, 1706 – April 17, 1790)