The Story of Ben Franklin Author:Eve Merriam He proved that lightning was electricity. He wrote a book of wise and funny sayings. He invented many useful things. In the city of Philadelphia, he started a library, a fire department, a police department and a hospital. He signed the Declaration of Independence and helped write the laws of the United States. This biography tells you about ma... more »ny things Benjamin Franklin did to help his country and his fellow men.« less