US founder proved lightning is electricity by flying kite
Born on January 17, 1706, Benjamin Franklin, one of the founding fathers of the US, was a polymath, inventor, scientist, author and politician. In 1752, Franklin conducted the famous kite-and-key experiment during a thunderstorm. As the kite was struck by lightning, electric charge was stored in a Leyden jar via the key, enabling him to demonstrate that lightning was electricity.