claim: Benjamin Franklin failed at earning the title of "The First American."
evidence: Benjamin Franklin FRS , FRSE -LRB- April 17 , 1790 -RRB- was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States .. FRS. Fellow of the Royal Society. FRSE. Royal Society of Edinburgh. Founding Fathers of the United States. Founding Fathers of the United States. Franklin was a renowned polymath and a leading author , printer , political theorist , politician , freemason , postmaster , scientist , inventor , civic activist , statesman , and diplomat .. polymath. polymath. political theorist. List of political philosophers. freemason. freemason. As a scientist , he was a major figure in the American Enlightenment and the history of physics for his discoveries and theories regarding electricity .. American Enlightenment. American Enlightenment. history of physics. history of physics. Enlightenment. Age of Enlightenment. As an inventor , he is known for the lightning rod , bifocals , and the Franklin stove , among other inventions .. lightning rod. lightning rod. bifocals. bifocals. Franklin stove. Franklin stove. He facilitated many civic organizations , including Philadelphia 's fire department and the University of Pennsylvania , an Ivy League institution .. Philadelphia. Philadelphia. Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania. University of Pennsylvania. University of Pennsylvania. Ivy League. Ivy League. Franklin earned the title of `` The First American '' for his early and indefatigable campaigning for colonial unity , initially as an author and spokesman in London for several colonies .. colonial unity. Thirteen Colonies. As the first United States Ambassador to France , he exemplified the emerging American nation .. United States Ambassador to France. United States Ambassador to France. Franklin was foundational in defining the American ethos as a marriage of the practical values of thrift , hard work , education , community spirit , self-governing institutions , and opposition to authoritarianism both political and religious , with the scientific and tolerant values of the Enlightenment .. Enlightenment. Age of Enlightenment. In the words of historian Henry Steele Commager , `` In a Franklin could be merged the virtues of Puritanism without its defects , the illumination of the Enlightenment without its heat . ''. Enlightenment. Age of Enlightenment. Henry Steele Commager. Henry Steele Commager. Puritanism. Puritanism. To Walter Isaacson , this makes Franklin `` the most accomplished American of his age and the most influential in inventing the type of society America would become . ''. Walter Isaacson. Walter Isaacson. Franklin became a successful newspaper editor and printer in Philadelphia , the leading city in the colonies , publishing the Pennsylvania Gazette at the age of 23 .. Philadelphia. Philadelphia. Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Gazette. Pennsylvania Gazette. He became wealthy publishing this and Poor Richard 's Almanack , which he authored under the pseudonym `` Richard Saunders '' .. pseudonym. pseudonym. After 1767 , he was associated with the Pennsylvania Chronicle , a newspaper that was known for its revolutionary sentiments and criticisms of the British policies .. Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Chronicle. Pennsylvania Chronicle. He pioneered and was first president of The Academy and College of Philadelphia which opened in 1751 and later became the University of Pennsylvania .. Philadelphia. Philadelphia. Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania. University of Pennsylvania. University of Pennsylvania. The Academy and College of Philadelphia. The Academy and College of Philadelphia. He organized and was the first secretary of the American Philosophical Society and was elected president in 1769 .. American Philosophical Society. American Philosophical Society. Franklin became a national hero in America as an agent for several colonies when he spearheaded an effort in London to have the Parliament of Great Britain repeal the unpopular Stamp Act .. Parliament of Great Britain. Parliament of Great Britain. Stamp Act. Stamp Act 1765. An accomplished diplomat , he was widely admired among the French as American minister to Paris and was a major figure in the development of positive Franco-American relations .. Franco-American relations. France–United States relations. His efforts proved vital for the American Revolution in securing shipments of crucial munitions from France .. American Revolution. American Revolution. He was promoted to deputy postmaster-general for the British colonies in 1753 , having been Philadelphia postmaster for many years , and this enabled him to set up the first national communications network .. Philadelphia. Philadelphia. During the Revolution , he became the first US Postmaster General .. US Postmaster General. US Postmaster General. He was active in community affairs and colonial and state politics , as well as national and international affairs .. From 1785 to 1788 , he served as governor of Pennsylvania .. Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania. governor of Pennsylvania. Supreme Executive Council of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania#Presidents of Council. He initially owned and dealt in slaves but , by the 1750s , he argued against slavery from an economic perspective and became one of the most prominent abolitionists .. slavery. slavery. abolitionists. Abolitionism in the United States. His colorful life and legacy of scientific and political achievement , and his status as one of America 's most influential Founding Fathers have seen Franklin honored more than two centuries after his death on coinage and the $ 100 bill , warships , and the names of many towns , counties , educational institutions , and corporations , as well as countless cultural references .. coinage. Franklin half dollar. warships. USS Benjamin Franklin ( SSBN-640 ). the names of many towns. List of places named for Benjamin Franklin. cultural references. Benjamin Franklin in popular culture