Benjamin Franklin was more than just a Founding Father. He was a brilliant inventor, a sharp-witted writer, and a man full of eccentric habits and unexpected quirks. A walking contradiction, Franklin could move from serious diplomacy to satirical essays about bodily functions without skipping a beat. His life reads like a strange mix of scientific journal and tabloid gossip – except it all really happened. Here are 14 truly wild facts that prove Ben Franklin was America’s most unconventional genius.
1. He Wrote an Entire Essay About Farting
Ben Franklin didn’t just ponder deep philosophical questions – he also mused about flatulence. In 1781, while living abroad as America’s ambassador to France, he penned an essay called “Fart Proudly.” It was a satirical jab at pretentious scientific societies, suggesting they fund research on how to make human flatulence smell pleasant. Though he never formally submitted it to any scientific academy, he circulated it among friends. It was a joke, yes, but also a clever critique of what he saw as pointless scientific posturing.
2. He Was Nearly Killed Trying to Cook a Turkey with Electricity
Franklin’s curiosity occasionally turned hazardous. In the late 1740s, he became fascinated with the potential of using electricity for cooking. During one experiment, he tried to electrocute a turkey for a picnic, but miscalculated and shocked himself instead. Witnesses said he was momentarily engulfed in a flash of light and knocked unconscious. He later joked that his ego was the most seriously injured part of him.
3. He Was the Author Behind Silence Dogood
At just 16 years old, Franklin created a fictional persona named Silence Dogood, a middle-aged widow who submitted opinion pieces to his brother’s newspaper. These essays, touching on topics like women’s rights, religion, and social customs, became wildly popular. Some readers even proposed marriage to the imaginary Mrs. Dogood. Franklin eventually confessed to the hoax, prompting a rift with his brother that led to his departure for Philadelphia.
4. He Took “Air Baths” Naked in Front of His Window
Franklin believed that fresh air was essential to good health. So every morning, he would sit naked in front of an open window to take what he called an “air bath.” He thought this practice helped ward off illness by improving circulation and preventing the spread of disease. Modern science doesn’t exactly back up his methods, but hey, he was ahead of the curve when it came to thinking about ventilation and hygiene.
5. He Was Inducted into Both the Swimming and Chess Halls of Fame
Yes, you read that right. Franklin was such an accomplished swimmer as a child that a friend once encouraged him to start a swim school. He even invented hand paddles to improve his strokes. Decades later, his advocacy for swimming earned him a spot in the International Swimming Hall of Fame. As if that weren’t enough, he also played competitive chess in Paris and wrote an essay on the moral value of the game, earning him posthumous induction into the U.S. Chess Hall of Fame.
6. He Was a Reluctant Fashion Icon in France
When Franklin was sent to France in 1776 to drum up support for the American Revolution, he dressed simply, donning frontiersman-style clothing and a fur hat. Surprisingly, the French loved it. His rustic look stood out among France’s powdered wigs and elaborate court fashion, making him an instant trendsetter. Women adopted “coiffure à la Franklin,” elaborate wigs inspired by his style, and French men even copied his white hat.
7. He Once Chased a Tornado on Horseback
In 1754, while visiting a friend in Maryland, Franklin witnessed a tornado – or what he called a “whirlwind.” Instead of fleeing like everyone else, he mounted a horse and chased the storm. His observations were groundbreaking. He noted that although the storm’s circular motion was rapid, its forward movement was slow enough for a man on foot to keep pace. It’s safe to say he was one of America’s first storm chasers.
8. He Created His Own Phonetic Alphabet
Franklin didn’t just invent gadgets – he tried to reinvent language itself. In the 1760s, he created a new alphabet designed to simplify spelling and pronunciation. He removed letters he deemed redundant (like C, J, Q, W, X, and Y) and assigned one sound to each remaining character. While the alphabet never gained traction, it reflected his obsession with logic and clarity.
9. He Helped Launch a Revolution and a Snuff Box Craze
Franklin was arguably America’s first true celebrity. In the 18th century, most global stars came from Europe. But Franklin’s scientific discoveries, witty writings, and diplomatic skills made him an icon – especially in France. His face appeared on snuff boxes, and people displayed engravings of him in their homes. After his death, his autobiography was even published in French before it appeared in English.
10. He Was America’s First Pick-Up Artist
Franklin wasn’t shy about his romantic life. He had numerous affairs and fathered at least one illegitimate child, with rumors of many more. In his controversial essay “Advice on the Choice of a Mistress,” he argued that older women made better companions – and lovers – because they were grateful and experienced. His bluntness would cause a social media uproar today, but in his era, it added to his reputation as a cheeky intellectual.
11. He Was Almost the First Man with a Flaming Cocktail
Franklin was fascinated with how electricity could enhance everyday life. At one of his picnics, he used electrical sparks to ignite flammable liquids and even toasted drinks in electrically-heated glasses. It was a spectacle of science-meets-party trick, and it speaks volumes about his desire to blend practicality with a sense of wonder and showmanship.
12. He Invented the Glass Harmonica, Which Mozart Loved
Inspired by the sound of wet fingers rubbed on wine glasses, Franklin invented the glass armonica in 1761. It featured a series of glass bowls mounted on a spindle and played by touch. The instrument gained rapid popularity, with composers like Beethoven and Mozart writing music for it. Though it eventually faded from use, Franklin considered it one of his finest inventions.
13. His London Basement Contained Human Remains
During renovations in 1998, workers discovered over 1,200 human bone fragments beneath Franklin’s former London residence. It turned out that Franklin had allowed an anatomist friend, William Hewson, to use the basement as a secret dissection lab. While this was likely for medical study, it’s unclear how much Franklin knew about the gruesome experiments. Still, it adds an eerie twist to his legacy.
14. He Left a Century-Long Gift That Funded Schools
When Franklin died in 1790, he left 2,000 pounds sterling to Boston and Philadelphia – with a catch. The money had to remain in trust for 100 years and could only be used for loans to local tradesmen. After 100 years, cities could use some of it for public works. The rest would continue to grow. Eventually, the funds helped establish the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia and the Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology in Boston. The man planned a legacy that would echo long after his time.
Not Just a Founding Father
Benjamin Franklin wasn’t just a founding father – he was a founding oddball, a fearless thinker who never stopped questioning, inventing, or pushing the boundaries of what a single human could achieve. In an age that prized conformity, he celebrated curiosity and eccentricity. And lucky for us, he wrote everything down.
Raised in a small Arizona town, Kevin grew up surrounded by rugged desert landscapes and a family of hunters. His background in competitive shooting and firearms training has made him an authority on self-defense and gun safety. A certified firearms instructor, Kevin teaches others how to properly handle and maintain their weapons, whether for hunting, home defense, or survival situations. His writing focuses on responsible gun ownership, marksmanship, and the role of firearms in personal preparedness.