Benjamin Franklin Statue, New York NY

I like that there are recognitions of important people in history. I think it enriches and gives value to what they did to improve our lives without knowing the scope they would have. Very beautiful place.

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) was an American inventor, polymath, statesman, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts and received little formal education. However, he became a printer's apprentice and later established his own printing business.
Franklin was also an accomplished writer, publishing numerous articles, essays, and pamphlets. He is well known for his experiments with electricity, including his famous kite experiment in 1752, which demonstrated the electrical nature of lightning. Franklin was also involved in politics, serving as a delegate to the Continental Congress and helping to draft both the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution.
In addition to his scientific and political achievements, Franklin was a successful businessman and philanthropist. He founded the first public library in the United States, the Library Company of Philadelphia, and helped establish the University of Pennsylvania. Franklin also invented numerous practical devices, including bifocal eyeglasses, the lightning rod, and the Franklin stove.
Franklin's contributions to American history and culture are widely recognized, and he remains an important figure in the history of science, politics, and innovation.

Notice the date and inscription. When this statue was erected, the building just beside it (at 41 Park Row) was the home to the New York Times. Facing City Hall (and near the courts), where so much news could be expected to happen, Franklin is standing in what one might call the original "Times Square"! It makes sense that Franklin is mentioned first as a "printer, " and the statue is dedicated to the " press and printers" of New York.