This is the page for the British surgeon. For the American founding father, see Benjamin Franklin. Sir Benjamin Franklin KCIE (1844 – 17 February 1917) was a British surgeon. After being educated at University College, London and in Paris, he entered the Indian Medical Service in April 1869, and worked at Lucknow and Simla. In 1894 he was appointed personal physician to Lord Elgin, the Viceroy, and held this position until 1899.