Death Masks of the Famous and Infamous

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)

Photo Credits: Abroadintheyard

Benjamin Franklin was one of the original Founding Fathers of the United States, as well as a polymath, writer, printer, political theorist, politician, Freemason, inventor, humanist, scientist, and the list goes on and on. He was a major figure in the American Enlightenment and earned the title of “The First American” for his campaigning for colonial unity as an author and spokesperson in London for several colonies. In addition, he was the first United States Ambassador to France, so he was the embodiment of American ideals. Throughout his life, Franklin suffered from obesity in which he developed gout which worsened with age. In 1790, at the age of 84, he died from a pleuritic attack and had over 200,000 people at his funeral.