How Ben Franklin Electrocuted Himself Cooking A Turkey
One of the greatest minds in the history of the United States gave himself quite a jolt while experimenting with electricity and cooking
When it comes to electricity, nearly every American is familiar with the story of 18th century inventor, statesman and writer Benjamin Franklin and his experiments with a kite. However, that was only one in an ongoing series of trials he conducted with electrical charges throughout his life. Another memorable and shocking incident he had was when he was once electrocuted while trying to cook a turkey.
Although Franklin didn’t invent electricity, as is frequently misremembered, he did a number of experiments that raised the energy source’s profile and hold a prominent place in history. His best known experiment occurred in 1752 when he was said to have flown a kite with a metal key tied to its tail in the midst of a thunderstorm in order to collect an ambient electrical charge in a Leyden jar (early electrical components). In doing so, he was able to prove a connection between lightning and electricity, which informed later research and invention. He was ultimately responsible for developing the lightning rod and advancing the study of electricity greatly with his ongoing scientific research on the…
