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Funeral of Benjamin Franklin...
Funeral of Benjamin Franklin...
Item # 701208
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May 01, 1790
THE MASSACHUSETTS CENTINEL, Boston, May 1, 1790 A report on page 3 headed: "The Immortal Franklin" begins: "This great and good man, whose death we announced in the last Centinel, was aged 85 years--and was interred with every mark of the esteem and veneration of his fellow citizens. His last illness lasted 16 days. At his funeral the following was the order of Procession." It then lists the order of the Procession.
There are a few more particulars plus word that: "The Supreme Executive of Pennsylvania have agreed to wear mourning for one month, in memory of Dr. Franklin..."
Nice to have this funeral report from the city of Franklin's birth.
Four pages, nice condition.
background: Benjamin Franklin died on April 17, 1790, in Philadelphia at the age of 84, and his funeral, held on April 21, was one of the largest public gatherings in the young United States, with an estimated 20,000 people attending in a city of roughly 28,000 residents. The procession was highly organized and inclusive, featuring clergy from all denominations, including the Hebrew congregation, leading the coffin, followed by prominent citizens, scientists, printers, and political leaders who carried or walked behind it. Ships in the harbor reportedly flew their flags at half-mast, and the city observed solemn mourning as Franklin was honored for his contributions to science, diplomacy, and the founding of the nation. The coffin was taken to Christ Church Burial Ground, where he was laid to rest beside his wife, Deborah Read Franklin. Contemporary accounts described the event as “more like a parade” than a traditional funeral, reflecting both the immense public admiration and the symbolic significance of Franklin as a unifying figure of the early Republic, whose death prompted tributes domestically and internationally, including from France, where he had been a celebrated diplomat.
Category: The 1600's and 1700's
No Longer Available
