London: 10 Interesting Things You Might Not Know about Benjamin Franklin

One of the Founding Fathers of the United States, Benjamin Franklin was also an author, printer, politician, Freemason, postmaster, inventor, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat. Here George Goodwin, the author of Benjamin Franklin in London: The British Life of America’s Founding Father, discovers some interesting facts about this 18th century mega man.

1. For 4/5 of his long life (he died aged 84) he was a loyal British royalist.

2. As a young man in London he sold British Museum founder Sir Hans Sloane an asbestos purse – you can still see the purse on display in the Natural History Museum.

3. The roast beef of old England made his back itch – he much preferred estate reared venison.

4. He lived in London for nearly twenty years and the house in Craven Street is his only home in the world to have survived the wrecking ball. It is now the Benjamin Franklin House Museum.

5. When he came to live in London in 1757 he was the city’s most famous American.

6. He kept fit by using dumbbells and running up the stairs of his house when it was raining – in effect an 18th century gym.

7. 13 February 2016 is the 250th anniversary of Franklin’s appearance in the House of Commons that led to the repeal of the hated (by Americans) Stamp Act.

8. Franklin invented the glass armonica – whose eerie tones can be heard in music by Mozart, Beethoven and John Williams (in the Harry Potter films).

9. He invented a 4-hour clock with one hand. He did this for the science, not practicality as it wouldn’t be much help after a rousing from a deep sleep (possibly induced by Madeira, Franklin’s favourite wine).

10. He was a great friend of Sir Francis Dashwood (of Hellfire Club fame). Nothing naughty, they spent their time abridging the Book of Common Prayer with the idea that old ladies could get out of services in cold churches in half an hour.

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