I offer an addendum to Philip Krider’s article “Benjamin Franklin and Lightning Rods” (Physics Today, January 2006, page 42). The science historian J. D. Bernal wrote the following: 1
In 1780, Franklin’s patriotic, or rebel, tendencies led King George III to insist that the lightning conductors at Kew Palace (near London) should have round knobs instead of Franklin’s recommended sharp points.
A contemporary wit wrote,
“While you, great George, for safety hunt,
And sharp conductors change for blunt,
The nation’s out of joint.
Franklin a wiser course pursues,
And all your thunder fearless views,
By keeping to the point.”
Sir John Pringle (1707–82), the President of the Royal Society, could not agree to the knobs and was induced to resign his Presidency.
