During the American Revolution, at the age of 70, Ben Franklin was sent to France on a diplomatic mission to secure France's financial and military aid to the rebelling colonies. He spent nearly a year in France, mostly in Paris.
At the time, Paris was one of the World's centers for scientific research, as well as art. Franklin, being a Renaissance Man of many talents, was quickly accepted into Paris high society. People found him witty, interesting, and unpredicatable. He was extremely energetic and spry for a man of his age. His Colonial "can do" attitude was refreshing to societal elites who were used to the conformist drudgery of their circle of acquaintances.
Ben soon got a reputation as a ladies man, and was rumoured to have bedded several dozen elderly, wealthy widows. He also gained the reputation of not being terribly selective in whom he chose to share an apartment with for the evening.
When a friend asked him why he seemed to have such low standards when it came to ladies' appearance, he reportedly responded, "In the dark, all cats appear to be gray."
