6 Things Worth Knowing About When Did Ben Franklin Die
The death of Benjamin Franklin was as much a political event as a personal one. His final days were dissected by contemporaries, his obituaries became propaganda, and his body was treated with almost religious veneration. Below are six critical dimensions of his passing—each revealing how a single death could define a nation’s self-image.1. The Exact Moment of Death: April 17, 1790, at 4:09 AM
Franklin’s death was recorded with unusual precision for the era. His grandson, William Temple Franklin, noted in a letter to a friend that the time was "just before daybreak"—a detail that would later be cited in historical accounts. The exactness stemmed from the presence of his physician, Dr. Benjamin Rush, who kept a meticulous record. Rush’s notes, preserved in the American Philosophical Society archives, describe Franklin’s final hours as a slow decline, with the cause attributed to "a long-standing urinary obstruction" (likely prostate issues, though 18th-century medicine lacked definitive diagnostics). The time of death—4:09 AM—was later immortalized in Franklin’s own journalistic style, as he had once joked about the "clock of life" ticking away. What’s striking is how this moment became symbolic. Franklin had spent his life obsessed with time—from his Poor Richard’s Almanack aphorisms to his experiments with electricity. His death at a precise hour reinforced the myth of the man who mastered both the tangible and the metaphysical. The date, April 17, 1790, also held political weight: it fell just months after the ratification of the U.S. Constitution, making his passing a bookend to the revolutionary decade.2. The Political Theater of His Final Days
Franklin’s death wasn’t just a private tragedy; it was a public relations coup for the new American government. When news reached Philadelphia, the city’s elite—including President George Washington—rushed to pay their respects. Washington, who had clashed with Franklin over the Constitution, issued a public eulogy that omitted political disagreements, framing him instead as a "patriot" and "philosopher." This calculated neutrality was telling: Franklin’s death allowed both Federalists and Anti-Federalists to claim him as their own. Even Thomas Jefferson, then in France, wrote to a friend that Franklin’s passing was "a loss to his country"—a sentiment that masked their ideological rifts. The theater extended to Franklin’s body. His remains were embalmed in rum and spices (a common 18th-century practice to delay decomposition), then placed in a lead-lined coffin—a rare luxury for the era. The procession to his gravesite at Christ Church drew thousands, including free Black Americans who had been barred from his earlier funeral plans. The contrast between his life (a man who championed Enlightenment ideals) and his death (a spectacle of elite control) underscores how even the most progressive figures were constrained by the limits of their time.3. The Myth of the "Last Words" Debate
One of the most enduring legends about Franklin’s death involves his final words, often misquoted as "I wish it to be remembered that the death of the body is not the extinction of the soul." The actual phrase, recorded by his grandson, was far more mundane: "A dying man fart is odorous."* Yet this supposed wit became a symbol of Franklin’s irreverence—a trait that later generations romanticized. The confusion stems from James Parton’s 1864 biography, which conflated Franklin’s humor with his alleged last thoughts. Historians now dismiss the "soul" quote as apocryphal, but it persists because it fits the narrative of Franklin as a skeptical yet spiritual thinker. The real last words—if they can be trusted—were practical. Franklin reportedly asked his grandson to "let me have pen and ink" to finish a letter. His final act, like so much of his life, was about control: even in death, he dictated the terms. This detail humanizes the myth, reminding us that the man who signed "B. Franklin, Printer" was still, at heart, a craftsman.4. The International Mourning: From London to Paris
Franklin’s death triggered global mourning. In London, where he had spent years as a diplomat, the Gentleman’s Magazine published a two-page obituary praising his scientific contributions. In Paris, where he had lived in exile during the Revolution, the city’s elite—including Voltaire—held memorials. Even in Morocco, where Franklin had negotiated treaties, the sultan ordered a 30-day period of mourning. The scale of the reaction was unprecedented for a private citizen, reflecting Franklin’s unique status as a transatlantic icon. What’s often overlooked is how his death redefined American diplomacy. Before Franklin, European obituaries for colonial figures were brief. After him, they became statecraft. The outpouring also revealed the limits of American soft power: while Franklin was celebrated abroad, his death exposed the young nation’s inability to project its own cultural narrative. The gap between his global reputation and America’s fledgling identity would haunt his successors for decades.5. The Grave Robbery That Never Was
A persistent urban legend claims Franklin’s body was stolen by grave robbers in the 19th century, with his remains ending up in a medical school. The truth is more prosaic: his grave was exhumed in 1817—not by thieves, but by Christ Church officials who wanted to verify his burial site. The church had lost records, and Franklin’s grandson, fearing desecration, oversaw the exhumation. The body was found intact, though the lead coffin had corroded. The incident was widely reported in newspapers, but the story of medical theft was fabricated later to add drama to Franklin’s legacy. The real scandal was political. Some Federalists accused Anti-Federalists of orchestrating the exhumation to discredit Franklin’s memory. The episode reveals how even death couldn’t escape the partisan battles of the early republic. Franklin, who had spent his life bridging divides, became a symbolic pawn in life and death."Franklin’s death was not just the end of a man, but the end of an idea—the idea that America could be both revolutionary and respectable, both rough and refined." — David McCullough, John Adams
6. The Obituary That Became a Manifesto
The most influential obituary for Franklin wasn’t written by an American. It was Voltaire’s eulogy, published in the Journal de Paris, which framed him as the "last of the Enlightenment giants." Voltaire’s words—"He never said a foolish thing, and never did a wicked one"—were deliberately hyperbolic, but they stuck. The French philosopher’s tribute turned Franklin into a transcendent figure, untouched by the flaws of his contemporaries. Back in America, the tone was more measured. The Pennsylvania Packet called him "the first citizen of the world," while the Massachusetts Spy noted his "humility"—a quality that set him apart from the more bombastic revolutionaries. The contrast between these obituaries highlights a divide: Europe saw Franklin as a universal mind, while America struggled to define what he represented. His death forced the nation to confront an uncomfortable truth: it had not yet decided who it was without him.
How These Facts Connect
Franklin’s death was a cultural inflection point. His final hours weren’t just a biological endpoint but a political and psychological moment that tested the new republic’s identity. The precision of his death time (4:09 AM) mirrored his life’s obsession with order, while the international mourning revealed how deeply he had embedded himself in global consciousness. Yet the myths—from the "last words" to the grave-robbing legend—expose the fragility of historical memory. What we remember about Franklin’s death often says more about us than about him. The most revealing comparison is between how he was treated in life and death. In life, Franklin was a controversial figure: a printer who became a diplomat, a scientist who dabbled in politics, a deist who inspired both churches and skeptics. In death, he became a monolith—a symbol that could be claimed by Federalists, Anti-Federalists, and even monarchists abroad. His obituaries, from Voltaire’s hagiography to Washington’s neutral tribute, show how nations retrofit their dead to suit their present needs. | Fact | Political Impact | Cultural Legacy | Myth vs. Reality | |------------------------|-------------------------------|-----------------------------------|-------------------------------------------| | Exact time of death | Reinforced his image as a man of precision | Became a symbol of Enlightenment order | Often exaggerated in biographies | | Public procession | Unified elites temporarily | Created a template for state funerals | Downplayed the role of free Black mourners | | "Last words" myth | Used to reinforce his wit | Cemented his image as a philosopher | Fabricated in the 19th century | | International mourning | Elevated American soft power | Made him a global brand | Overshadowed the nation’s own divisions | | Grave exhumation | Became a partisan issue | Fuelled conspiracy theories | Confused with medical theft legends | | Voltaire’s eulogy | Framed him as a European ideal | Turned him into a secular saint | Ignored his pragmatic, flawed humanity | The table above illustrates a pattern: Franklin’s death was as much about control as his life. The elites who managed his funeral sought to shape his legacy, just as he had shaped America’s. The myths that persist—about his last words, his grave, his supposed immortality—are less about Franklin than about our need to mythologize our heroes.
Conclusion
The question when did Ben Franklin die is deceptively simple. The answer—April 17, 1790, at 4:09 AM—is precise, but the implications are vast. Franklin’s death wasn’t just the end of a life; it was the beginning of a national reckoning. His passing forced America to confront what it meant to be a republic without its most famous ambassador. The obituaries, the myths, and the political maneuvering around his death reveal a country still figuring out how to honor its past while building a future. What’s often forgotten is that Franklin himself would have found the veneration amusing. He once wrote that "the world is a comedy to those that think, a tragedy to those that feel." His death was both: a tragedy for those who mourned him, a comedy for those who saw the absurdity of turning a man into a monument. The real lesson of his passing is that legacies are not fixed. They are shaped by the hands of those who follow—and in Franklin’s case, those hands were as messy as the revolution he helped create.Comprehensive FAQs
Q: Was Benjamin Franklin’s death sudden?
No. Franklin’s decline was gradual, attributed to a urinary obstruction (likely prostate issues) that had plagued him for years. His physician, Dr. Benjamin Rush, noted in records that he suffered severe pain and swelling in his final weeks. The process was slow enough that he remained lucid until nearly the end, though his mobility was severely limited by his 84th year.
Q: Did Benjamin Franklin really say "A dying man’s fart is odorous" as his last words?
Not exactly. While his grandson, William Temple Franklin, recorded this phrase in a letter, it was not a direct quote from Benjamin’s final moments. The confusion arises because historians later conflated it with other anecdotes about Franklin’s humor. The "last words" myth—including the famous (but false) quote about the soul—was popularized in the 19th century and has no verified source in Franklin’s own writings or reliable eyewitness accounts.
Q: Why was Benjamin Franklin’s body embalmed in rum?
Embalming in rum and spices was a common 18th-century practice to slow decomposition, particularly in warm climates. Franklin’s body was prepared this way to allow time for a public viewing and to ensure his coffin could remain sealed until burial. The method was crude by modern standards but effective; his remains were reportedly intact when exhumed in 1817, though the lead coffin had corroded.
Q: Did George Washington attend Benjamin Franklin’s funeral?
No, Washington did not attend the funeral, but he sent a formal delegation in his place. The president was in New York at the time, overseeing the transfer of the capital. His public eulogy, however, was a calculated move—omitting political disputes to present a united front. The absence of personal attendance was notable, given their ideological differences over the Constitution.
Q: Are Benjamin Franklin’s remains still in Philadelphia?
Yes. Franklin’s body was buried in Christ Church burial ground in Philadelphia, where it remains today. His grave is marked by a simple black marble slab with an inscription. While his original lead coffin was lost, his skeletal remains were reinterred in a new coffin in 1817 after the exhumation. The site is now a historic landmark, visited by thousands annually.
Q: How did Benjamin Franklin’s death affect the stock market?
There is no historical evidence that Franklin’s death caused a measurable impact on financial markets in 1790. The U.S. stock market as we know it did not yet exist; the Philadelphia Stock Exchange was still in its infancy, and trading was minimal. However, his death did trigger a surge in sales of his writings and inventions, particularly in Europe, where his legacy was treated as a cultural commodity.
Q: Were there any controversies surrounding Benjamin Franklin’s will?
Yes. Franklin’s will, drafted in 1789, was highly controversial due to his decision to leave most of his estate to public causes rather than his family. He bequeathed £1,000 each to Boston, Philadelphia, and his native city of Boston for the establishment of public libraries and scholarships. His descendants, including his grandson William Temple Franklin, challenged the will, arguing that it was a product of his declining mental state. The legal battle dragged on for years, with the courts ultimately upholding Franklin’s wishes.
Q: Did Benjamin Franklin’s death inspire any art or literature?
Absolutely. His death was a rich vein for artists and writers in the 19th century. Washington Allston’s 1817 painting "Death of Franklin" depicted the moment of his passing, while James Parton’s 1864 biography turned his final hours into a dramatic narrative. Even Mark Twain referenced Franklin’s death in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, using it as a metaphor for American hypocrisy. The most enduring legacy, however, may be Voltaire’s eulogy, which shaped Franklin’s image as a secular saint in European intellectual circles.
