Person    | Male  Born 6/1/1706  Died 17/4/1790

Benjamin Franklin

Natural philosopher, writer, revolutionary politician and inventor. Born Boston, Massachusetts. Crossed the Atlantic 8 times, living for many years apart from his wife and children. A keen swimmer, he often swam in the Thames. Once swam from Chelsea to Blackfriars performing tricks on the way for the benefit of his friends in a boat alongside. 

Spent 1724-6 in London working in the printing business and wrote a pamphlet.  Was in London again, 1757-62 staying at 7 Craven Street, petitioning the British authorities on behalf of the Pennsylvania assembly. In London again, 1764-75, to petition king George III. 1783 signatory to the Treaty of Paris. Owned as many as 7 slaves and expressed the racist views that were common at the time, but later became an outspoken critic of slavery.

Quote: "Nothing can be said to be certain except death and taxes." Invented: a heat-efficient stove - the "Franklin", bifocal glasses and swimming flippers. Died in Philadelphia.

His Autobiography is very readable.

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Benjamin Franklin

Commemorated ati

Benjamin Franklin

Franklin lived here for two extended stays between 1757 and 1775. This is the...

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Diplomatic Gates

The spelling is probably a good indication of which country funded this memor...

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Sir John Lawrence

Sir John Lawrence

Lord Mayor of London 1664-5. 2022: The book 'The Royal African Company' by K. G. Davies (Longmans Green, 1957) contains a list of the directors of the Royal African Company. Referring to Lawrence'...

Person, Lord Mayor, Politics & Administration, Race Issues

1 memorial
Sir Christopher Collett

Sir Christopher Collett

Chairman of the Temple Bar Trust, 1993 - 2004.  Lord Mayor of London in 1989.  The picture comes from his niece's obituary webpage.

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Councillor A. C. Shearing

Councillor A. C. Shearing

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Person, Architecture, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Sir William MacCormac, Bart. KCB, KCVO, MD, FRCS

Sir William MacCormac, Bart. KCB, KCVO, MD, FRCS

Notable surgeon during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Strong advocate of the antiseptic surgical methods proposed by Joseph Lister and he served in conflicts such as the Boer War. An...

Person, Emergency Services, Medicine, Politics & Administration, Ireland

1 memorial
John Edward Sears

John Edward Sears

Architect and politician. Studied architecture at University College London and the Royal Academy Schools, and was made a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1889. Elected to the...

Person, Architecture, Politics & Administration

2 memorials

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Adams, Holden and Pearson

Adams, Holden and Pearson

Architectural partnership. 1899 Charles Holden joined H. Percy Adams' practice and became a partner in 1907. In 1913 Lionel Pearson became a partner. Their designs include 55 Broadway, the headquar...

Group, Architecture

5 memorials
St George the Martyr School - Boys

St George the Martyr School - Boys

WC1, Old Gloucester Street, 25

The quotation is from the Bible, the Second Epistle of Paul to Timothy.

1 subject commemorated