Franklin's Epitaph and Bequest
A statue of Franklin made by James E. Fraser.
When Benjamin Franklin was 22, he composed an epitaph:
"The Body of B. Franklin Printer; Like the Cover of an old Book, Its Contents torn out, And stript of its Lettering and Gilding, Lies here, Food for Worms. But the Work shall not be wholly lost: For it will, as he believ'd, appear once more, In a new & more perfect Edition, Corrected and Amended By the Author."
However, as directed by his final will, his grave reads a simple phrase:
"Benjamin and Deborah Franklin".
Franklin bequeathed £1,000 (about $4,400 at the time, or about $112,000 in present day money) each to the cities of Boston and Philadelphia, in trust to gather interest for 200 years. The trust began in 1785 when the French mathematician Charles-Joseph Mathon de la Cour, who admired Franklin greatly, wrote a friendly parody of Franklin's "Poor Richard's Almanack" called "Fortunate Richard." The main character leaves a smallish amount of money in his will, five lots of 100 livres (the currency of France back then), to collect interest over one, two, three, four or five full centuries, with the resulting astronomical sums to be spent on impossibly elaborate utopian projects. Franklin, who was 79 years old at the time, wrote thanking him for a great idea and telling him that he had decided to leave a bequest of 1,000 pounds each to his native Boston and his adopted Philadelphia. As of 1990, more than $2,000,000 had accumulated in Franklin's Philadelphia trust, which had loaned the money to local residents. From 1940 to 1990, the money was used mostly for mortgage loans. When the trust came due, Philadelphia decided to spend it on scholarships for local high school students. Franklin's Boston trust fund accumulated almost $5,000,000 during that same time; at the end of its first 100 years a portion was distributed to help establish a trade school that became the Franklin Institute of Boston and the whole fund was later dedicated to supporting this institute.
"The Body of B. Franklin Printer; Like the Cover of an old Book, Its Contents torn out, And stript of its Lettering and Gilding, Lies here, Food for Worms. But the Work shall not be wholly lost: For it will, as he believ'd, appear once more, In a new & more perfect Edition, Corrected and Amended By the Author."
However, as directed by his final will, his grave reads a simple phrase:
"Benjamin and Deborah Franklin".
Franklin bequeathed £1,000 (about $4,400 at the time, or about $112,000 in present day money) each to the cities of Boston and Philadelphia, in trust to gather interest for 200 years. The trust began in 1785 when the French mathematician Charles-Joseph Mathon de la Cour, who admired Franklin greatly, wrote a friendly parody of Franklin's "Poor Richard's Almanack" called "Fortunate Richard." The main character leaves a smallish amount of money in his will, five lots of 100 livres (the currency of France back then), to collect interest over one, two, three, four or five full centuries, with the resulting astronomical sums to be spent on impossibly elaborate utopian projects. Franklin, who was 79 years old at the time, wrote thanking him for a great idea and telling him that he had decided to leave a bequest of 1,000 pounds each to his native Boston and his adopted Philadelphia. As of 1990, more than $2,000,000 had accumulated in Franklin's Philadelphia trust, which had loaned the money to local residents. From 1940 to 1990, the money was used mostly for mortgage loans. When the trust came due, Philadelphia decided to spend it on scholarships for local high school students. Franklin's Boston trust fund accumulated almost $5,000,000 during that same time; at the end of its first 100 years a portion was distributed to help establish a trade school that became the Franklin Institute of Boston and the whole fund was later dedicated to supporting this institute.
Things Named After Franklin
Because of Franklin's amazing accomplishments, many things were named after him to honor and remember his contribution to society. Philadelphia's Benjamin Franklin Parkway (a major thoroughfare) and Benjamin Franklin Bridge (the first major bridge to connect Philadelphia with New Jersey) are named in his honor.
In 1976, as part of a bicentennial celebration, Congress dedicated a 20-foot marble statue in Philadelphia's Franklin Institute as the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial (in the picture in the section "Franklin's Epitaph and Bequest").
Also, many educational centers, institutes, cities, counties, streets, battles, zoos, municipalities, geological features, businesses, sports teams, you name it! There's even a crater on the moon named after Benjamin Franklin! That's just what comes with being a very successful man.
The Franklin Crater on the Moon
In 1976, as part of a bicentennial celebration, Congress dedicated a 20-foot marble statue in Philadelphia's Franklin Institute as the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial (in the picture in the section "Franklin's Epitaph and Bequest").
Also, many educational centers, institutes, cities, counties, streets, battles, zoos, municipalities, geological features, businesses, sports teams, you name it! There's even a crater on the moon named after Benjamin Franklin! That's just what comes with being a very successful man.
The Franklin Crater on the Moon
Impact on Society
Franklin accomplished so much during his 84 years, and he still is accomplishing more each and every day, even after his death! As a signer of both the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, Franklin was considered one of the Founding Fathers of America. His discoveries, inventions, and accomplishments added together gained him a spot in many museums, historical places, and on the $100 bill. His contributions to our world today will never be forgotten. Because of him, we have this, right now, right here! Without electricity, there'd be no computers, no lights. Because of him, we have flexible catheters. Because of him, we have glass armonicas. Because of him...
We are what we are today.
We are what we are today.