Ben Franklin was the first ambassador to France from the newly created United States of America. To say he was a rockstar in Paris in his time is… an understatement. The statue sits in the Passy neighborhood where he lived for quite some time. Lived and loved. The man had quite a few affairs with some famous (old) ladies of Paris.

The statue was created in 1898 and depicts Ben at the French court in 1788. Shortly after he and Jefferson left France, the Revolution began and an unholy terror reigned until Napoleon picked up the Crown of France from the gutter, saving her from a fate Russia would know 150 years later.

Engraved on the statue is the inscription: "This wise sage, hero of America brought to us great enlightenment and is now claimed by Europe and America."

Nearby: Champ de Mars, Place du Trocadéro