Squirrels have been kept as pets since antiquity, becoming especially popular during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance — a trend that lasted until the early 19th century.
Benjamin Franklin even wrote an elegy in memory of a friend’s fallen pet squirrel — a thread 🧵
Benjamin Franklin even wrote an elegy in memory of a friend’s fallen pet squirrel — a thread 🧵
Squirrels were popular household pets, particularly among children, in 18th- and 19th-century America.
They were so beloved that in 1772, Benjamin Franklin wrote an elegy for the beloved squirrel of his friend Georgiana Shipley...
They were so beloved that in 1772, Benjamin Franklin wrote an elegy for the beloved squirrel of his friend Georgiana Shipley...
While on a diplomatic journey in Europe, Franklin brought along a gray squirrel, which he later gifted to Georgiana, the young daughter of a friend.
The squirrel, named Mungo, became a beloved pet and companion of the girl and her family.
The squirrel, named Mungo, became a beloved pet and companion of the girl and her family.
A few years later, Mungo got out of the house and was sadly killed by a shepherd's dog.
When Franklin learned of Mungo's passing, he penned a letter of condolence to Georgiana, lamenting the premature loss of her cherished companion...
When Franklin learned of Mungo's passing, he penned a letter of condolence to Georgiana, lamenting the premature loss of her cherished companion...
Franklin celebrated the life of the transatlantic rodent with the following words:
"I lament with you most sincerely the unfortunate end of poor Mungo: Few squirrels were better accomplish’d; for he had had a good education, had traveled far, and seen much of the world."
"I lament with you most sincerely the unfortunate end of poor Mungo: Few squirrels were better accomplish’d; for he had had a good education, had traveled far, and seen much of the world."
In his letter, Franklin commemorated Mungo's life with a moving elegy titled:
"On the Loss of Her American Squirrel, who, Escaping from His Cage, was Killed by a Shepherd’s Dog."
"On the Loss of Her American Squirrel, who, Escaping from His Cage, was Killed by a Shepherd’s Dog."
Following the loss of Mungo in September 1772, Franklin reached out to Georgiana with a kind proposal:
"If you wish it, I shall procure another to succeed him."
Georgiana accepted the offer, and Franklin sent another gray squirrel that thrived and lived a long life.
"If you wish it, I shall procure another to succeed him."
Georgiana accepted the offer, and Franklin sent another gray squirrel that thrived and lived a long life.
In a letter dated May 1779, Georgiana fondly updated Franklin on the new squirrel:
"The American Squirrel is still living and much caress’d; poor fellow! He is grown quite old and has lost his eye-sight, but nevertheless preserves his spirits and wonted activity."
"The American Squirrel is still living and much caress’d; poor fellow! He is grown quite old and has lost his eye-sight, but nevertheless preserves his spirits and wonted activity."
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From Benjamin Franklin to Georgiana Shipley, 26 September 1772
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