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One of the most amazing personalities in history and an enormous intellect. Here's his bio on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_franklin

A couple of years ago I read the biography by Walter Isaacson "Benjamin Franklin: An American Life." Might be time to reread it...

I read Ben Franklin's autobiography and thought the guy was amazing. I think he was a true scientist, willing to experiment not only with "scientific" things but also with his personal schedule and time management (of course, it's from him that the "Frankling Planner" gets its name), and certainly, with a new form of government. He was willing to take good advice/strong criticism about himself as a youth, and, as a result, grew into a statesman and diplomat. Because of him and other Founders who dared to do something new even at their own personal risk ("We must hang together or we will each hang separately"), America's roots are strongly progressive.