Benjamin Franklin Dies: America's First Renaissance Man
Benjamin Franklin died on April 17, 1790, at age 84 in Philadelphia. He was the only Founding Father who signed all four key documents: the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Alliance with France, the Treaty of Paris ending the Revolution, and the Constitution. His accomplishments spanned an absurd range: he invented the lightning rod, bifocal glasses, and the Franklin stove; founded the University of Pennsylvania, the American Philosophical Society, and the first public lending library; served as Postmaster General; and negotiated the French alliance that won the war. He had two years of formal schooling. His funeral drew 20,000 mourners, the largest gathering in American history to that point. His will left money in trust to Boston and Philadelphia for 200 years.
April 17, 1790
236 years ago
Key Figures & Places
What Else Happened on April 17
Vitellius claimed the Roman throne after his legions crushed Otho’s forces at the First Battle of Bedriacum. This victory ended the brief reign of the third emp…
A crown slipped off a dying king's head in 1080, but Harald III left behind a throne that felt like a trap for his nephew. Canute IV took over, not just to rule…
Hasan II fell to an assassin’s blade, extinguishing the Bavand dynasty’s seven-century hold over the Mazandaran region. This power vacuum allowed the rival Afra…
A single poisoned cup ended the Bavand rule in 1349. The ruler drank, choked, and died while his guards watched silently. Now the Afrasiyab family seized the th…
Teutonic knights breached the walls of Kaunas Castle after a brutal month-long siege, capturing the Lithuanian stronghold and seizing its commander, Vaidotas. T…
A poet named Chaucer didn't just read to King Richard II; he gambled his reputation on a ragtag group of pilgrims in 1397. While the court dined, Chaucer introd…
Talk to History
Have a conversation with historical figures who witnessed this era. Ask questions, explore perspectives, and bring history to life.