“Did Benjamin Franklin ever print pamphlets here?” I ask. You might not know it but Place de Passy holds a secret. This unassuming square in the 16th arrondissement of Paris played a pivotal role in the American Revolution.
For nine years during the war Benjamin Franklin resided in Passy. He wasn’t just a diplomat here. He established a printing press. He printed pamphlets. These pamphlets helped rally support for American independence. His press became known as the Passy Press. It even produced unique passports and comics he called Bagatelles. He also developed a typeface known as “le Franklin”.
Place de Passy wasn’t always this quiet square. Before becoming part of Paris in 1860 Passy was its own commune. It had a chateau and hot springs. These springs attracted Parisians and English visitors. They made it their winter retreat. The area’s charm lay in its attractive countryside. There were modest houses alongside grand residences. Passy’s population boomed. It grew from 2400 in 1836 to 17594 by 1860.
Artists flocked to Passy too. A group called Les Artistes de Passy formed. They were avant-garde painters sculptors and poets. They held meetings and dinners. Famous names like Apollinaire and Leger were among them. Albert Gleizes even painted a picture of Place de Passy’s bridges. The spirit of solidarity in this group was remarkable. It showed the strength of community amid growing factions within Cubism.
Even after Franklin left Thomas Jefferson noted the impact. Jefferson wrote that Passy seemed to have lost its patriarch. Today Rue Benjamin Franklin honors his legacy. It stands as a reminder of the significant role Place de Passy played. It played a role in shaping not only Parisian history but also American independence.