Entries by Megan King

Parties, Cakes & Mistletoe: A Georgian Christmas

“A good conscience is a continual Christmas” – Benjamin Franklin Read on as we explore the Georgian Christmas practices of holiday cakes, large parties, mistletoe décor, and other beloved Christmas traditions that Benjamin Franklin and the residents of 36 Craven Street likely enjoyed. How did Benjamin Franklin and the residents of 36 Craven Street celebrate […]

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The History of Thanksgiving: An Introduction

Alice Hopkinson explores the history of Thanksgiving and challenges us to rethink the accepted narrative. Last year marked the 400th anniversary of the ‘First Thanksgiving’ of 1621, something that holds a deep, traditional meaning, and has become enshrined in the American cultural conscience. Since George Washington’s first Thanksgiving Proclamation of 1789, Presidents have used the […]

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Mary Robinson receives Benjamin Franklin House Medal for Leadership

  Former President of Ireland, stateswoman and campaigner Mary Robinson has received the Benjamin Franklin House Medal for Leadership in a virtual ceremony on Wednesday 7 July. The award recognises extraordinary individuals following in Franklin’s footsteps who exemplify a commitment to justice, cross-cultural understanding, tolerance and humanity. Robinson was the first woman President of Ireland […]

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Frank(lin) Views Podcast: Irina Bokova

Frank(lin) Views podcast features thought leaders across disciplines on themes associated with Benjamin Franklin – the great diplomat, writer, inventor, scientist and more – including leadership, the purpose of history, modern day publishing, and diplomacy. BenjaminFranklinHouse · Frank(lin) Views Podcast – Irina Bokova In Episode 3 of the Frank(lin) Views Podcast, we speak to Irina Bokova, former Director-General of UNESCO and […]

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Frank(lin) Views Podcast: YS Chi

Frank(lin) Views podcast features thought leaders across disciplines on themes associated with Benjamin Franklin – the great diplomat, writer, inventor, scientist and more – including leadership, the purpose of history, modern day publishing, and diplomacy. In Episode 2 of the Frank(lin) Views Podcast, we speak to Youngsuk “YS” Chi. YS Chi is an international business leader and a global thought leader […]

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Frank(lin) Views: David Rubenstein

Frank(lin) Views podcast features thought leaders across disciplines on themes associated with Benjamin Franklin – the great diplomat, writer, inventor, scientist and more – including leadership, the purpose of history, modern day publishing, and diplomacy. In Episode 1, we speak with the Franklinesque David Rubenstein, co-founder and co-chair of Carlyle, a global private equity firm. He is a leader in ‘patriotic […]

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Benjamin Franklin and the Glass Armonica

Everyone knows the eerie, tinkling notes of the ‘Aquarium’ movement in Camille Saint-Saëns’ symphony for children, The Carnival of the Animals, even if we can’t name the music. But few people realise that the instrument which creates that other-worldly sound – also used in some renditions of the Harry Potter film music – was invented […]

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