Hey Montana, Do You Know Who Created Daylight Saving?

Appreciate the contributions, Ben, but come on! Benjamin Franklin's impact on history is undeniable, with inventions like the odometer, bifocal eyeglasses, and the lightning rod. However, did you know that we also owe him, in part, for the concept of daylight-saving time?

Forget everything you were taught about how daylight-saving time was meant to help farmers way back when. While that might have played a role in the United States. embracing the time change, it wasn't the real reason behind its creation. It was thanks to Benjamin Franklin, who planted the seed of the idea.

Yes, it was Franklin who suggested to the people in Paris that adjusting their sleep routines could save them some cash on lamp oil and candles.

And then, well, it all went downhill.

Alright maybe it didn't exactly go completely downhill. Daylight saving has proven beneficial over the years, but a small satirical essay penned by Benjamin Franklin in the spring of 1784 and published in the Journal de Paris sparked the creation of a time change that is still followed today.

One morning, after rising with the sun and thinking about the expenses people incurred on candles and oil, Franklin wrote,

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. I am certain of my fact. One cannot be more certain of any fact. I saw it with my own eyes.

Late-Rising Parisians

During the period when Franklin penned his essay, it was common knowledge that Parisians had a reputation for sleeping in, often not emerging until midday.

Franklin himself was roused from sleep one morning by a loud commotion. As he opened his eyes and noticed the brightness around him, he initially mistook it for the glow of candlelight. It wasn't until he realized it was the sun casting its light that he felt a slight surprise.

Franklin's Humorous Proposals for Morning Wake-Up Calls

What if someone didn't want to wake at the crack of dawn? In a witty manner, Franklin suggested, "Every morning, as soon as the sun rises, let all the bells in every church be set ringing; and if that is not sufficient? Let cannons be fired in every street, to wake the sluggards effectually, and make them open their eyes to see their true interest."

Franklin's Sarcastic Ideas to Encourage Early Rising

Franklin humorously recommended various measures to encourage the idea of waking up earlier, such as imposing a tax on those with sun-blocking shutters, rationing candles, and restricting coach movements after sunset. He quipped, "Oblige a man to rise at four in the morning, and it is probable he will go willingly to bed at eight in the evening."

The Cost-Saving Benefits of Early Rising

Franklin highlighted the potential cost savings from waking earlier with the natural light, emphasizing the financial advantages. "An immense sum! That the city of Paris might save every year, by the economy of using sunshine instead of candles."

Franklin's Disinterest in Recognition

Despite his satirical tone, Franklin indicated his lack of desire for accolades or rewards for his ideas on daylight saving. "For the great benefit of this discovery, thus freely communicated and bestowed by me on the public, I demand neither place, pension, exclusive privilege, nor any other reward whatever."

The Evolution of Daylight-Saving Time

George Hudson of New Zealand officially proposed daylight saving in 1895, over a century after Franklin's essay. So thanks to you, too, George! The concept gained traction and eventually led to the establishment of daylight-saving time practices.