[originaltext] Few people can stand for the spirit of early America as much

Few people can stand for the spirit of early America as much as Benjamin Franklin. He lived through almost the whole of the 18th century：he was born 6 years after the century began and died 10years before it ended．During this time，
he saw tile American colonies grow from tiny settlements into a nation, and he also contributed much to the new state. He was deeply interested in science and natural history and his experiments with electricity and lighting led directly to the invention of the lightening rod. He was also interested in improving the conditions of his fellow men. He was involved in a number of projects in his native Philadelphia, including the founding up of a library, a university, a philosophical society and a fire prevention service. He worked hard to enable the American colonies to gain independence from Britain. As ambassador to France, he encouraged the French  to help George Washington. After the war, he attended the American constitutional congress. This was his last contribution for he died late that year. He is still fondly remembered by Americans as one of the creators of the United States.