This map of the Gulf Stream by Timothy Folger and George Louis Le Rouge is one of the first maps covering this location.Like many others, Benjamin Franklin began observing the Gulf Stream in 1768. Franklin took his observations to his cousin, Timothy Folger, an experienced mariner, who he then requested make a chart of the area. Folger and Franklin combined their observations, and Franklin went on to show the map to the British Postal Service. The map didn’t gain interest until Franklin returned to the Gulf Stream in 1776; he found the Gulf Stream to be warmer than other waters surrounding the area, and this revived interest in his map. When he went to Paris, Franklin had the map printed by Le Rouge. He wanted all French ship captains carrying arms and supplies to the United States to carry it.