Benjamin Franklin was basically the 18th-century version of a rock star, a scientist, and a high-level diplomat all rolled into one. When he finally passed away, it wasn’t just a family mourning; it was a global event. People often ask, when did Ben Franklin die, and the short answer is April 17, 1790. But honestly, the "how" and the "what happened next" are way more interesting than just a date on a calendar.
He was 84 years old, which was ancient for the 1700s. He had lived through the birth of a nation, messed around with lightning, and charmed the French court. By the time 1790 rolled around, his body was just done. He had been struggling with kidney stones and gout for years, which sounds absolutely miserable.
The Final Moments in Philadelphia
Franklin spent his last days in his house off Market Street in Philadelphia. He wasn't just sitting around, though. Even in his eighties, the man was still writing letters and trying to finish his autobiography.
The actual cause of death was an abscess in his lung that led to pleurisy. Basically, he couldn't breathe. His daughter, Sarah "Sally" Bache, was by his side. There’s a story—likely true—that Sally told him to change his position in bed so he could breathe easier. Franklin, ever the wit even at death's door, reportedly whispered his last words: "A dying man can do nothing easy."
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He died at approximately 11:00 PM on that Saturday night.
When Did Ben Franklin Die and Why Did the Senate Snub Him?
You’d think the entire government would drop everything to honor the man who helped write the Declaration of Independence. Not exactly. While the House of Representatives voted to wear mourning armbands for a month, the Senate said "no thanks."
Why? Politics, mostly. John Adams, who was Vice President at the time, really didn't like Franklin. He thought Ben was too much of a flirt and a bit of a self-promoter. Adams and a few others blocked the official mourning period in the Senate, which is kind of a petty move when you think about it.
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France, on the other hand, went all out. The National Assembly there declared three days of national mourning. They loved him over there. To them, he was the "philosopher of the New World."
The Massive Funeral Procession
Even if the Senate was being difficult, the people of Philadelphia weren't. On April 21, 1790, they held the funeral. It was the biggest thing the city had ever seen.
About 20,000 people showed up. To put that in perspective, the entire population of Philadelphia at the time was only around 28,000. Almost everyone who could walk was in the streets. The procession included:
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- All the local clergy (regardless of their religion, which was Ben's idea).
- Members of the American Philosophical Society.
- Printers and city officials.
- Common citizens who just respected the guy.
The Penny Tradition at Christ Church Burial Ground
If you go to Philadelphia today, you can find his grave at the Christ Church Burial Ground at 5th and Arch Streets. It’s a simple marble slab. It doesn't have a long list of his achievements. It just says: "Benjamin and Deborah Franklin 1790."
He actually wrote a much cooler epitaph for himself when he was 22, comparing his body to an old book with its lettering stripped off, but he chose the simple one in his will.
You’ll notice the grave is covered in pennies. People toss them through the iron fence because of his famous line, "A penny saved is a penny earned." Ironically, the weight and the copper from all those pennies actually started cracking and damaging the marble a few years back. The church had to do a major restoration in 2016 to fix the "penny damage."
Actionable Insights for History Buffs
If you're planning to pay your respects or just want to dive deeper into the life of the man who died in 1790, here is how to do it right:
- Visit the Grave: Go to the corner of 5th and Arch in Philly. You don't even have to pay the entrance fee to the cemetery; you can see the grave right through the "Franklin Hole" in the brick wall.
- Bring a Penny (Carefully): If you toss one, try not to aim for the center of the slab. The conservationists will thank you.
- Read the Autobiography: If you want to know the man before he was the "dying man," his autobiography is surprisingly funny and very human.
- Check out the American Philosophical Society: It’s nearby and houses many of his actual papers and inventions.
Franklin's death marked the end of an era, but the way he went out—witty, surrounded by family, and slightly controversial in the halls of power—was perfectly on brand for him.