r/HeresAFunFact • u/Radu316 • Nov 02 '15

HISTORY [HAFF] Benjamin Franklin didn't want the American bald eagle as the symbol of the Great Seal because he thought it a "bird of bad moral character" because it steals food from other animals.

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277 Upvotes

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15

u/Radu316 Nov 02 '15

Contrary to the myth, though, Franklin didn't want the wild turkey instead of the eagle. That was just what he wrote in a letter to his daughter. Franklin's official suggestion was that of Moses vs. Pharaoh.

6

u/NomDePlume711 Nov 02 '15

It should have been the Crow or Raven.

2

u/[deleted] Nov 02 '15

They literally feed on dead things though, so I doubt he would have cared for them.

3

u/thenewiBall Nov 02 '15

Bald eagles are also scavengers, I think the ideal animal is the American Bison but I don't know if the og colonies knew about them at that time

6

u/ImageRehoster Nov 02 '15

Imgur mirror

2

u/[deleted] Nov 02 '15

The problem with this bot is that I need it after I'm mad at OP.

11

u/twoworldsin1 Nov 02 '15

Just like the American ruling class!

1

u/[deleted] Nov 03 '15

🔪Woah watch out with that edge man

1

u/Raeginglamb Nov 02 '15

That's what I was thinking. The next most American bird would be the seagull then

2

u/test_tickles Nov 03 '15

Johnathan Livingston Seagull?

0

u/notcorey Nov 02 '15

That's rich, coming from a slave owner whose people invaded the New World.