Who First Mapped the Gulf Stream?
We often hear references to the Gulf Stream on weather reports because it is an important factor. We know that this body of water is responsible for making the cold west coasts of Ireland and Scotland, far more temperate. Knowledge of the Gulf Stream goes back indefinitely, the Seminole Indians of Florida knew of its existence, though they didn’t know where it went or how it affected weather. And it seems common knowledge that Ben Franklin was the first to map the Gulf Stream but here we stumble in truth, here, the legend exceeds the man. It’s easy to believe Ben Franklin could, and would have mapped the Gulf Stream. He was a genius at both government and science. He invented many things including bifocals, the lightning rod, catheter, the Franklin Stove and of course he was known as the wizard of electricity! But he didn’t map the Gulf Stream. The Gulf Stream is a warm ocean current that originates in the Gulf of Mexico. High temperatures around the equator heat the water. Earth’s rot
