It's got here with another episode of the History and Plug podcast.

When Benjamin and Franklin died on April 12, 1790, he made a final bet on the future of the

United States, a gift of 2,000 pounds to Boston and Philadelphia to be lent out to tradesmen

over the next two centuries to jumpstart their careers. Each loan would be repaid with interest

over 10 years, and if all went according to Franklin's event of scheme, the accrued final payout in 1991 would be a windfall. In today's rebroadcast episode, I'm speaking to Michael Meyer, author of Benjamin Franklin's Last Bet. He traces the evolution of these twin funds, is the age alongside America itself, bankrolling woodworkers and silversmiths, trade schools, and space races.

Over time, Franklin's wager was misused, neglected, and contested, but it was never extinguished.

Franklin's stake in the leather apron class, as he called it, remains in play to this day,

and offers an inspiring blueprint for prosperity in our modern era.

Hope we enjoyed this discussion.

And one more thing before we get started with this episode, a quick break for a word from our sponsors. Hi, everyone. Super Bowl

champ Vernon Davis here from Legal Health Center. If you've been injured in an accident and

thank you deserve conversation, listen up because we have legal professionals standing by right now to answer your questions for free. You can find out

if you have a case and how much is potentially worth. Thanks, Vernon. You heard it, folks. If you've

been injured, call and find out how much you qualify for. Call 800-497-44-10. Advertisement sponsored by Legal Help Center may not be available in all states.

Michael, welcome to the show.

Thanks for having me.

Delighted to be here.

Well, I've come across Mr. Franklin many times in this podcast series, and it's always a delight to learn about him. And what a

merry prankster he was, how inventive, how creative he was. And, well, I suppose we should start

with his career because he did so many different things from diplomat to printer to volunteer,

fire chief, to anything, any profession you could imagine or describe the 18th century.

So first of all, can you tell me about what he did during his career that would make him

...