Benjamin Franklin's kite experiment and other electrical discoveries

THE YEAR 1952 is the 200th anniversary of the flying of Benjamin Franklin's historic kite which drew electric charges from the atmosphere and proved the electrical nature of lightning. At that time Benjamin Franklin was 46 years old and already had attained fame as a printer, author, inventor, publisher, educator, scientist, philosopher, and patriot. His accomplishments are so varied that to comprehend all of them and their resulting effects on the history of civilization presents problems in time, understanding, and breadth of knowledge. That this is true is in itself a great tribute to Franklin.