The Numerous Bodies Recently Found in Ben Franklin’s Basement

TL;DR

Bones of anatomist William Hewson found in Ben Franklin's basement were used for scientific study, not evidence of Franklin being a serial killer.

Transcript

The Numerous Bodies Recently Found in Ben Franklin’s Basement For eighteen years, Ben Franklin, the great American inventor, diplomat, and signer of the Declaration of Independence, was a tenant in a beautiful four story Georgian house at 36 Craven Street in London, mere blocks from the River Thames. As ambassador from the colonies, he entertained,... Read More

Key Insights

• 🇧🇯 Ben Franklin's former residence in London, now a museum, contained the remains of anatomist William Hewson's dissections.
• 😷 Hewson's illegal dissection practices were likely an attempt to meet the high demand for cadavers in medical schools at the time.
• ☠️ The bones found in the basement showed evidence of dissection marks made by 18th-century surgical instruments.
• 💦 Although the means of acquiring bodies for dissection were likely illegal, the work Hewson did was significant and valuable to the field of medicine.
• ❓ Franklin's involvement in the illegal dissections remains unknown.
• 😣 Hewson's life was cut short by a severe blood infection contracted from a dissection wound.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did the bones of William Hewson end up in Ben Franklin's basement?

William Hewson, an anatomist and friend of Franklin, used the basement of Franklin's house to conduct dissections and run his own anatomy school. The bones discovered belonged to individuals used for scientific study.

Q: Why did William Hewson try to hide the bones in the basement?

During the 18th century, dissections and autopsies were illegal in England. Hewson likely wanted to avoid detection and prosecution for his illegal activities, which included possibly paying grave robbers for bodies.

Q: Was Ben Franklin involved in the illegal dissections and anatomy school?

There is no evidence either way regarding Franklin's involvement. While he knew about Hewson's work and the prevalence of grave robbing in the medical profession, it is uncertain if he was directly involved in the transactions or aware of any criminal activity.

Q: What contributions did William Hewson make to the field of medicine?

Hewson made significant discoveries related to the human body, such as observing lymphocytes' production and describing the components of blood. He was also the first to report that red blood cells were disk-shaped.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• During the renovation of Ben Franklin's former residence in London, over 1200 bones, dating back 200 years, were discovered in the basement.

• The bones belonged to anatomist William Hewson, a friend of Franklin and former tenant of the house.

• Hewson used the bones for medical and scientific study, and their presence in the basement was likely an attempt to hide illegal dissection practices.