#benjaminfranklin

In 1998, workers renovating a house at 36 Craven Street in Benjamin Franklin's former London residence made a shocking discovery: more than 1,200 pieces of human bone hidden beneath the basement floor. The remains belonged to at least 15 individuals, including several children, sparking rumors that one of America's most famous Founding Fathers had been involved in sinister activities.

The truth, however, appears far less sinister. Historians believe the bones were connected to an anatomy school operated by Franklin's friend and lodger, William Hewson. During the 18th century, medical students often relied on bodies obtained through grave robbing because legal cadavers were scarce. Evidence found with the remains, including surgical cut marks, strongly suggests the skeletons were used for anatomical study rather than the victims of a crime.

On June 11, 1742, Benjamin Franklin introduced one of his lesser-known but highly practical inventions: the Franklin stove. Designed as a metal-lined fireplace insert, the device was created to improve the efficiency of indoor heating in colonial homes.

Traditional open hearths lost most of their heat up the chimney while requiring large amounts of firewood. Franklin’s design addressed this problem by enclosing the fire within an iron structure that radiated heat more effectively into the room. It also redirected airflow to improve combustion, producing more warmth while using significantly less fuel.

Being of a gentle and amiable personality, inventor and statesman, Benjamin Franklin did the impossible and befriended the Mothman creature. The cryptid assisted Franklin with numerous experiments and was known to have enjoyed copious amounts of ale.