Discover the Founding Father Who Preferred Turkeys Over Bald Eagles

When the Great Seal of the United States included a bald eagle, some disagreed. One founding father called it a lazy bird and said he preferred a turkey.

Benjamin Franklin was a brilliant inventor, statesman, newspaper publisher, and more. The natural world fascinated him, and he had a lot to say about bald eagles, rattlesnakes, and turkeys! This myth originated in a single sentence in a letter to his daughter, Sarah Bache: “For my own part I wish the Bald Eagle had not been chosen as the Representative of our Country.“

If you only read this, you may think he hated bald eagles. However, as with many things in history, there’s more to the story. We discovered that the quote is a small part of a very long letter he wrote to his daughter. Let’s get a little perspective and find out whether this founding father actually preferred turkeys.

Did Franklin Have a Problem with Bald Eagles?

Although that sentence leads people to believe that Franklin hated bald eagles, the whole thing was a joke. But he did make some interesting comparisons between the two birds.

He said that bald eagles were birds of “bad moral character” and didn’t earn their living, but stole it. Franklin also observed that tiny little sparrows could attack a bald eagle and drive it away. Also, because eagles were found around the world, they were more common and therefore not as interesting as a bird unique to America.

In contrast, turkeys originated in North America, making them a “true original native of America.” In addition, wild turkeys attack anything that threatened them, making them courageous.

Franklin wrote the letter to Sarah in 1784, after the Society of the Cincinnati also adopted the bald eagle. It was their version that looked like a turkey, and their version he mocked.

The Society of the Cincinnati and the Turkey

Franklin called the bald eagle a “king bird” because it stole food from other birds. However, according to an article by Emily Sneff, Franklin didn’t have anything particular against the eagle. Instead, he directed his criticism at the Cincinnati Society which also took the bald eagle as their symbol.

Here’s more of the letter for better context:

“Others object to the Bald Eagle, as looking too much like a Dindon, or Turkey. For my own part I wish the Bald Eagle had not been chosen as the Representative of our Country. He is a Bird of bad moral Character. He does not get his Living honestly. You may have seen him perch’d on some dead Tree near the River, where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the Labour of the Fishing Hawk; and when that diligent Bird has at length taken a Fish, and is bearing it to his Nest for the Support of his Mate and young Ones, the Bald Eagle pursues him and takes it from him. With all this Injustice, he is never in good Case but like those among Men who live by Sharping and Robbing he is generally poor and often very lousy. Besides he is a rank Coward: The little King Bird not bigger than a Sparrow attacks him boldly and drives him out of the District. He is therefore by no means a proper Emblem for the brave and honest Cincinnati of America who have driven all the King birds from our Country, tho’ exactly fit for that Order of Knights which the French call Chevaliers d’Industrie. I am on this account not displeas’d that the Figure is not known as a Bald Eagle, but looks more like a Turkey. For in Truth the Turkey is in Comparison a much more respectable Bird, and withal a true original Native of America. Eagles have been found in all Countries, but the Turkey was peculiar to ours, the first of the Species seen in Europe being brought to France by the Jesuits from Canada, and serv’d up at the Wedding Table of Charles the ninth. He is besides, tho’ a little vain and silly, a Bird of Courage, and would not hesitate to attack a Grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his Farm Yard with a red Coat on.”

Benjamin Franklin, in a letter to his daughter Sarah Bache

So did this famous founding father prefer a turkey? Probably not. He enjoyed a good joke as much as the next person and Poor Richard’s Almanack is a great example of his humor! Plus, his comparisons between the bald eagle and turkey are interesting and valid points.

Regardless, Benjamin Franklin was a unique individual and responsible for many inventions. One is the Franklin Stove, which prevented many housefires and he gave the patent away because it was more important to save lives. He even used turkeys to test his theories on electricity and said those electrocuted turkeys were especially tender.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Jim Cumming/Shutterstock.com