![]() ![]() Nationally, newspapers covered the funeral of the most famous of all Americans.Īnd in France, it was assumed that Congress and the president would join the French government in mourning Franklin.Ĭount Mirabeau stated, “The Congress has ordained throughout the United States a mourning of one month for the death of Franklin, and at this moment America is paying this tribute of veneration and gratitude to one of the fathers of her Constitution." But the Work shall not be wholly lost For it will, as he believ'd, appear once more, In a new & more perfect Edition, Corrected and amended By the Author.” Franklin, Printer like the Cover of an old Book, Its Contents torn out, And stript of its Lettering and Gilding, Lies here, Food for Worms. I never passed half an hour in his company without hearing some observation or anecdote worth remembering.”įranklin had written his epitaph in 1728, which reappeared after his passing. James Madison also recalled Franklin with respect: “I had opportunities of enjoying much of his conversation, which was always a feast to me. He said that there was "more respect and veneration attached to the character of Doctor Franklin in France than to that of any other person in the same country." ![]() “I generally answered ‘no one can replace him, Sir I am only his successor,’” Jefferson said. In his eulogy for Franklin, Jefferson told the story about his response to people in France who asked if he was really in that country to replace Franklin. Thomas Jefferson had returned from France in 1790 and visited with Franklin in Philadelphia about one month before his death. Absent from the event was President George Washington and members of Congress, who were in New York City. His coffin was carried by the most powerful men in the state of Pennsylvania and escorted to Christ Church by a crowd of citizens that included a contingent of printers and members of the American Philosophical Society, which Franklin founded. By current estimates, the population of the city of Philadelphia in 1790 was 28,000. “He was able to restrain thunderbolts and tyrants,” said Count Mirabeau.įranklin’s funeral was on April 21, 1790, and at least 20,000 people attended it. The French National Assembly went into mourning. Franklin’s reputation as a scientist, inventor, author, and statesman extended there for decades, where the French considered Franklin a true Renaissance man. Reportedly, Franklin’s last words were, “A dying man can do nothing easily.” Newspapers in Boston said that Franklin had been ill for several weeks, and they made sure readers knew that Franklin was born there. The world has been so long in possession of such extraordinary proofs of the singular abilities and virtues of this FRIEND OF MANKIND that it is impossible for a newspaper to increase his fame, or to convey his name to a part of the civilized globe where it is not already known and admired.” “Died on Saturday night, in the 85th year of his age, the illustrious BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. Another contemporary newspaper, the Federal Gazette, summed up public opinions about the Founding Father in its brief obituary. The Pennsylvania Gazette announced his passing. He knew his time was short in April 1790 and worked to make sure that the proper obituary was written in advance. Senate (which refused to mourn Franklin).įranklin had been ill for some time, and his last major public appearance was at the Constitutional Convention in 1787. ![]() Today marks the anniversary of Benjamin Franklin’s death, which drew many different responses from the citizens of Philadelphia (who mourned in droves) and the U.S. ![]()
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