To the student of history, it may seem as though almost everything Benjamin Franklin wrote was a milestone in some way. For instance, in the sciences, he conducted groundbreaking research in electricity, identified and charted the Gulf Stream, proved that lead was poisonous and was sickening those who worked with it, and even worked out new ship rigging that took better advantage of the wind. In his writings on society and politics, it is hard to find a work without at least a nugget of insight into how people govern their personal and public affairs and how they might better govern themselves. By the 1750s he was well aware that he was famous and admired, and he took his status seriously, believing that it put him under obligations to sacrifice his leisure time for the sake of public service. When he wrote for publication, he did so knowing that what he wrote would be read in part because it was written by the widely admired Ben Franklin. He also knew that much of the world would judge Americans on the basis of what he himself said and achieved. To the learned people of the world, to the political leaders of the world, and to the ordinary people of the world, he represented the surprises of America and of Americans and was a living example that Americans could equal and even exceed Europeans in learning, in genius, and in achievement.