He wanted to see if lightning and electricity were the same.
Benjamin Franklin invented the lightning rod.
One inventor of the lightning rod was Benjamin Franklin. Another was a German priest, Diwisch. Both appear to have made their inventions in the same decade, around 1753. See "Who Really Invented The Lightning Rod?", The Electrical Review, volume 32, 10Feb1893, p.146.
His kite-in-a-lightning-storm experiment, and most likely after witnessing what happens to buildings that are struck by lightning.
the lightning rod
Benjamin Franklin did not invent the lightning rod, but he did popularize its use through his experiments with electricity in the mid-1700s. The lightning rod was actually invented by the American scientist and statesman, Benjamin Franklin.
Benjamin Franklin invented the lightning rod in 1749. It was designed to protect buildings and ships from lightning strikes by attracting the lightning and safely conducting it to the ground.
benjamin franklin-lightning rod
No. Franklin just proved that lightening was natural in nature with his kite experiment, but he did invent the lightening rod. Houses caught fire in the 1700's by lightening stikes, so he invented the lightening rod to be put on the roof of a house so it would get hit instead of the house. Edison will invent the light bulb in the late 1800's.
The lightning rod
Benjamin FranklinBenjamin Franklin
bifocals, electricity, lightning rod, franklin stove,odometer
Lightning rod, Franklin stove, and bifocal glasses.