This Day in History: , Benjamin Franklin Flies br a Kite During Thunderstorm.br June 10, 1752.br Decades before signing the br Declaration of Independence, br Franklin spent nearly ten years br conducting electricity experiments.br While flying his kite in the storm, br the U.S. Founding Father was able br to collect an ambient electrical br charge in a leyden jar.br Among other things, making br the connection between lightning br and electricity led to Franklin's br invention of the lightning rod.br By the time of thebr experiment, Franklin br was already a successful br businessman and politician.br His career as a statesman br before, during and after br the American Revolution br spanned several decades.