From the beginning of the 18th century, education and culture formed very important parts of life in Philadelphia. One of the colony's most learned early settlers was James Logan, William Penn's private secretary. Logan mastered numerous languages as well as higher mathematics, and also conducted botanical experiments. He assembled a library that formed the basis for the Library Company of Philadelphia, one of the nation's earliest subscription libraries, founded in 1731 and still operating as a research facility today.
The diverse achievements of Benjamin Franklin gained Philadelphia recognition as the "Athens of America," a center of learning and culture. Franklin's accomplishments as a practical philosopher and political scientist were accompanied by scientific innovation such as his work in astronomy, his experimentation with static electricity, and his invention of bifocal lenses and the heating stove.
Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001
http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2001 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Philadelphia Information info
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