Benjamin Franklin was an American inventor, scientist, statesman, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He is best known for his discoveries in electricity and his invention of the lightning rod. He also invented bifocals, the Franklin stove, and the glass harmonica. He was a prolific writer and political theorist, and he played a major role in the American Revolution. His name is often associated with the phrase 'a penny saved is a penny earned.'