Who is Benjamin Franklin?

Benjamin Franklin is not typically known as a commercial actor, as he lived from 1706 to 1790, long before the invention of television and modern advertising. However, in recent years, he has become a popular figure in commercials, thanks to his well-known image as an inventor, statesman, and founding father of the United States.

One famous commercial featuring Ben Franklin is for a well-known insurance company. The commercial shows a modern-day family visiting a colonial-era house that Franklin once lived in. As they explore the house, they come across various inventions that Franklin is said to have invented, such as bifocal glasses, lightning rods, and the Franklin stove. At the end of the commercial, a voiceover announces that the insurance company can help protect the family's home and possessions, just like Ben Franklin helped protect homes from lightning strikes.

Another commercial that features Franklin is a beer commercial. In this commercial, Franklin is shown sitting in a pub with a group of his fellow founding fathers. He takes a sip of the beer and then announces that it is "Electric" – a play on his famous experiments with electricity. The other men are skeptical at first, but then they all take a sip and agree that it is indeed electrifying.

Despite living in a time before commercials or television as we know them, Benjamin Franklin's image and legacy have made him a popular figure in modern advertising. As a symbol of innovation, creativity, and ingenuity, he is often used to promote products that promise to protect, enhance, or elevate our lives in some way.