Why Did Benjamin Franklin Conceive the Idea of Daylight Savings?

Question

As a kid, I had always thought that daylight savings was the brain child of a group of high-powered individuals (preists included) who reckoned that in order for Easter to fall on a Sunday every year, we must altar the time. But what 's the real reason? Was it for Franklin's own selfish reasons? Or was there a significant purpose?

Answer 1

I have listed two good informational websites on your question. I think you should go to them and read what they have to say. According to what I've read, there is no clear cut reason why Franklin conceived the idea.

Answer 2

Yes:

The idea of daylight saving was first conceived by Benjamin Franklin (portrait at right) during his sojourn as an American delegate in Paris in 1784, in an essay, "An Economical Project." Read more about Franklin's essay.

Some of Franklin's friends, inventors of a new kind of oil lamp, were so taken by the scheme that they continued corresponding with Franklin even after he returned to America.

The idea was first advocated seriously by London builder William Willett (1857-1915) in the pamphlet, "Waste of Daylight" (1907), that proposed advancing clocks 20 minutes on each of four Sundays in April, and retarding them by the same amount on four Sundays in September. As he was taking an early morning a ride through Petts Wood, near Croydon, Willett was struck by the fact that the blinds of nearby houses were closed, even though the sun was fully risen. When questioned as to why he didn't simply get up an hour earlier, Willett replied with typical British humor, "What?" In his pamphlet "The Waste of Daylight" he wrote:

"Everyone appreciates the long, light evenings. Everyone laments their shortage as Autumn approaches; and everyone has given utterance to regret that the clear, bright light of an early morning during Spring and Summer months is so seldom seen or used."

Answer 3

Franklin had eventually bedded down at three or four hours past midnight but was awakened at six in the morning by a sudden noise. Surprised to find his room filled with light, Franklin at first imagined that a number of the new oil lamps were the source, but he soon perceived the light to be originating from the outside. Looking out the window, Franklin saw the sun rising above the horizon, its rays pouring through the open shutters.

"I looked at my watch, which goes very well, and found that it was but six o clock; and still thinking it something extraordinary that the sun should rise so early, I looked into the almanac, where I found it to be the hour given for his rising on that day. I looked forward too, and found he was to rise still earlier every day towards the end of June; and that no time during the year he retarded his rising so long as till eight o clock. Your readers, who with me have never seen any sign of sunshine before noon, and seldom regard the astronomical part of the almanac, will be as much astonished as I was, when they hear of his rising so early; and especially when I assure them, that he gives light as soon as he rises. I am convinced of this.

The above was taken from www.webexhibits.org, I believe it was intended to save on oil, as they lit things with oil lamps at the time. I believe he was in Paris when he conceived the idea, and carried the idea to the united states.

Answer 4

Franklin claimed that this idiotic plan would 'save energy' by allowing Americans to use less lighting.
He, and the rest of the id10ts have not yet considered that they only moved the lighting requirements to morning. We _still_ use all the lighting energy, it has only been displaced.
What jerks!

Answer 5

Franklin proposed the idea as an alternative to simply adjusting schedules. by changing the clock it allows people to adjust to the schedule change easier.

the plan was not implemented until WWI however.

Answer 6

Franklyn didn't, it was an innovation of the 20th century & and had to do with evening recreational time.
Farmer's time was set by their cocks, sorry roosters and the sun. Flemming invented Standard time near the end of the 19th century(Time zones)

Answer 7

Time management; all over the universe!

Answer 8

it was oringinally concieved to assist the farmers with their harvest and planting . More daylight means more time to cultivate crops

Answer 9

i heard it was for the famrers...... so they have more time out in the fields in the morning....or somehting.... o well.... it doesnt make any sense now though