Benjamin Franklin, founding father of the USA, had fought hard to stay close to Britain and part of empire

​​At 70, Benjamin Franklin was the oldest signatory of the US Declaration of Independence in 1776. Five years earlier Franklin had visited Ireland in September and October 1771 and had allegedly spent five disagreeable days at Hillsborough Castle as the guest of Wills Hill, then the Earl of Hillsborough (subsequently the 1st Marquess of Downshire) and the Secretary of State for the Colonies.