12. Benjamin Franklin was accused of being a serial killer following the discovery of human bodies buried beneath his London property
Benjamin Franklin, affectionately referred to as “The First American” in recognition of his lifelong efforts to unite the colonies, was responsible, among countless accomplishments, for the vital alliance with France during the Revolutionary War. Only one residence inhabited by Franklin prior to his death in 1790 has survived to the modern day: 36 Craven Street in London. During restoration work in 1998, workmen uncovered more than 1,200 pieces of human bones buried beneath the property. As The Times reported, “initial estimates are that the bones are about 200 years old and were buried at the time Franklin was living in the house”.
Some of the bones, belonging to an estimated six children and four adults, displayed clear signs of having undergone dissection, with cuts, saw marks, and drill holes in the skulls. Immediately prompting conspiratorial whisperings of Franklin being a serial killer during his days in Europe, with the Westminster Coroner duly announcing “I cannot totally discount the possibility of a crime”, despite these allegations it is not sustainable that Franklin was personally responsible. Instead, Franklin’s housemate William Hewson, a surgeon and anatomist, most likely procured the bodies for scientific study. Strict laws governed the use of bodies for medical research, demanding secrecy, with Franklin likely merely offering sanctuary for a fellow scientist.