Benjamin Franklin : An Invisible Arc Between Boston and Paris

USPA NEWS - An invisible arc of history links two cities , Boston and Paris . As the United States celebrates the 250 th Anniversary of its Independence , these cities evoke the enduring presence of Benjamin Franklin the brilliant scientist , statesman , diplomat and one of American Founding Fathers .Our journey begins at Boston Harbor and continues to 17 Milk Street , near the site of the house where Benjamin Franklin was born on January 17 , 1706 .The original house no longer exists . Today only a modest marker bearing Franklin `s likeness recalls the birthplace of the man whose ideas and diplomatic vision would help shape a New Nation .We then continue to the courtyard of Boston `s Old City Hall , where Franklin `s imposing bronze statue welcomes visitors .Created by American sculptor Richard Saltonstall Greenough the monument was dedicated on September 17 , 1856 .It was Boston `s first public portrait statue and remains one of the city `s most significant tribute to a historical figure .Franklin `s story soon carries us across the Atlantic .In 1776 , the Continental Congress sent him to France with a mission that would prove decisive : to secure French financial and military support .

Franklin `s intelligence , personal charm and diplomatic skill captivated French Society and won the confidence of Foreign Minister Comte de Vergennes and the court of Louis XVI . His efforts contributed to France `s recognition of American Independence and to the signing of the Treaties of Alliance and Commerce on February 6 , 1778 .From his residence in Passy , Franklin transformed his home into a centre of American diplomacy in Europe .His diplomatic mission culminated in the negotiations led to the Treaty of Paris , signed on September 3 , 1783 .Alongside John Adams and John Jay , Franklin helped secure Britain `s recognition of the Independence of the United States . Our journey pauses at Square de Yorktown in Paris . Here stands a seated bronze figure of the American diplomat , a replica of John J; Boyle `s monument in Philadelphia . The statue was presented to the City of Paris by John H. Harjes in 1906 .Today , the statue and the nearby Rue Benjamin Franklin preserve the memory of a man claimed by two worlds .His legacy forms an invisible bridge across the Atlantic , linking the birth of Franklin to the French Capital , where his diplomacy helped secure the freedom .