The Seated Franklin, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

George Washington's tribute to Franklin:

Venerated for benevolence, admired for talents, esteemed for patriotism, beloved for philanthropy.

visible at foot of statue below.

Statue by John J. Boyle marks the center of the Park and "the Green."

Franklin Photos - August, 2007, Conor O'Shea

About the exhibition

Press Release, Public Programs Office, ALA

Frankin Traveling Exhibition Is

Coming to Niles, Illinois

Niles Public Library District
6960 W. Oakton St. Niles, IL, corner of Oakton and Waukegan.

In the meantime, Chicago's Benjamin Franklin

Joseph Medill, editor of the Chicago Tribune , presented Richard Henry Park's work to Lincoln Park in 1896. It is now located at the south end of Lincoln Park, facing north and the visible zoo, with "its back to LaSalle Drive." -- from Ira J. Bach's A Guide to Chicago's Public Sculpture, 1983. Photo taken by Michael O'Shea.

The Youngest and Oldest Signers of the Declaration of Independence
The youngest signer of the Declaration of Independence was Edward Rutledge, age 26, of Southern Carolina. He argued for the removal of Jefferson’s condemnation of slavery. Although initially opposed to independence, he signed the Declaration for the purpose of unanimity.
The oldest signer was Benjamin Franklin, age 70, At the signing, Franklin observed "We must all hang together, or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately."

Happy Fourth!

Benjamin Franklin, visible on the right, served on the Committee to write the Declaration of Independence He was appointed with Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston on June 11, 1776 to draft a declaration of independence.

For an analysis of John Trumbull's famous painting see David's McCullough surprising analysis of the masterpiece in the Wall Street Journal, 6/30-7/1 issue, P1, p.1 An Icon's Secret - WSJ.com