Benjamin Franklin and the Craven Street Bones

Tuesday 14th March 2023

Dr Paul Knapman (Coroner of Westminster for 31 years) and Dr Márcia Balisciano (Director of Benjamin Franklin House) shared their fascinating story of the Craven Street bones which were discovered in the basement of Benjamin Franklin House in 1998. Dr Paul Knapman talked about the discovery of the bones and all the fascinating medical dimensions and Dr Márcia Balisciano talked about Benjamin Franklin and his role in the story. Attendees also toured Benjamin Franklin House, just a few minutes' walk from The Farmers Club where guests met for a light sandwich lunch. The discovery of the bones was reported to Dr Paul Knapman, as coroner, as a potential mass murder but the bones were actually from an anatomy school of a good friend of Benjamin Franklin at the time he was living there.