Benjamin Franklin

About Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790) was a pivotal figure of the American Enlightenment, ranking #339 in overall historical importance according to MIT's Pantheon project. A quintessential polymath, his influence spanned science, literature, and, most critically, politics. As a Founding Father, he was instrumental in securing French support for the American Revolution and was a key signatory of both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, fundamentally shaping the nation's creation.

Despite his foundational historical stature, Franklin’s modern internet attention appears somewhat inflated relative to his impact score. He commands 2.6 million Wikipedia views in 2025, leading to an Attention Gap suggesting an "overattention" factor of +6x compared to his historical rank. This means he receives significantly more digital attention than figures of comparable historical weight, though the sheer volume of modern political figures eclipses him. For context, contemporary politician George W. Bush, ranked #441 historically, draws nearly triple Franklin's annual pageviews at 7.1 million.

Franklin's digital presence is showing signs of cooling; his 2025 viewership experienced a sharp year-over-year decline of 34.1%, and his momentum between Q1 and Q3 slowed by 16%, suggesting that while he remains a well-known historical name, his position in the contemporary attention landscape is softening.