Original: United States In the United States , the pointed lightning rod conductor , also called a '' lightning attractor '' or '' Franklin rod , '' was invented by Benjamin Franklin in 1749 as part of his groundbreaking explorations of electricity .
Simplified: United States In the United States , the pointed lightning rod conductor , often incorrectly referred to as the '' lightning attractor , '' was invented by Benjamin Franklin as part of his groundbreaking explorations of electricity .