[n] (England) a landowner (14th and 15th centuries) who was free but not of noble birth
[n] printer whose success as an author led him to take up politics; he helped draw up the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution; he played a major role in the American Revolution and negotiated French support for the colonists; as a scientist he is remembered particularly for his research in electricity (1706-1790)
[n] United States historian noted for studies of Black American history (born in 1915)