Collected to honor the 275th anniversary of the American Philosophical Society, this illustrated assortment explores varied topics and correspondences of Benjamin Franklin. As founder of the American Philosophical Society in 1743, Franklin was engaged in intellectual pursuits, the fruits of which we enjoy today, and correspondences with leading global scholars and academics of the eighteenth century. Including scientific observations and inventions of Franklin and thought-provoking exchanges between Franklin and members of the most illustrious European scholarly and royal circles, this assembly is sure to delight anyone interested in the Enlightenment, American history, or the legacy of knowledge.