Benjamin Franklin
(1706-1790), American statesman; signer of the Declaration of IndependenceMid-Georgian Portraits Catalogue Entry
Sitter in 8 portraits
Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Benjamin Franklin's achievements as a statesman, diplomat and writer influenced the outcome of the American War of Independence (1775-83). He is recognised as Foundling Father of the United States of America, being the only person to sign the Declaration of Independence in 1776, the Peace Treaty in 1783 and the United States Constitution in 1787. The study of electricity was also a particular interest and he published Experiments and Observations on Electricity in 1751. In 1743 he co-founded The Philosophical Society (now know as the American Philosophical Society) in Philadelphia, which is regarded as the oldest learned society in the United States.
Watch a film clip on the sitter from the BBC Archive in the Media section below
by Jean Baptiste Nini
cast terracotta medallion, 1777
On display in the Room 14 miniature case at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 722
after Joseph Siffred Duplessis
oil on canvas, based on a work of 1783
NPG 327
by Augustin de Saint-Aubin, after Charles Nicolas Cochin
line engraving, 1777
NPG D2369
The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America, July 4th 1776
by Asher Brown Durand, after John Trumbull
line engraving, published 1820 (1786-1797)
NPG D1357
by Charles Turner, after Mason Chamberlin
mezzotint, 1840 or after
NPG D2017
by Justus Chevillet, after Joseph Siffred Duplessis
line engraving, 1778
NPG D19094
by Pierre Michel Alix, printed by Bechet, published by Marie Francois Drouhin, after Charles Amédée Philippe van Loo
etching and aquatint, circa 1790 (circa 1778)
NPG D47451
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