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The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin T HE G LENCOE L ITERATURE L IBRARY Study Guide for The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin i Meet Benjamin Franklin Benjamin thought that his older brother James was too hard on him, and they often fought. When his apprenticeship ended, Franklin went to Philadelphia. This city, far more than his birthplace of Boston, became Franklin’s home. In Philadelphia he established his own business and raised his family. After Franklin retired from business in 1748, he embarked on a new career as a civil servant. He served in the Pennsylvania Assembly and became deputy postmaster-general. Sent to England as a rep- resentative of the Assembly, he spent five years there. During that time, he made the acquaintance of statesmen and scientists alike. Years later, he returned to England and found himself caught up in the growing tension between the thirteen colonies If you would not be forgotten, as soon as you are and the British government. Franklin’s loyalties were dead and rotten, either write things worth reading, divided. He felt affinities to the colonies and to King or do things worth the writing. George II of England. When he could tolerate the British government’s policies toward the American —Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard’s Almanack, 1738 colonies no longer, he sailed back to the colonies. By the time his ship arrived, the first battles of the American Revolution had already been fought. enjamin Franklin was a true Renaissance Franklin was chosen to serve on the Second Bman. He was a diplomat, philosopher, inven- Continental Congress, which, acting as the govern- tor, scientist, and businessman. He wrote letters, ment for the colonies, declared independence from articles, pamphlets, scientific papers, and an auto- Britain and appointed George Washington as com- biography. mander in chief of the American army. Franklin Despite his later prominence, Franklin had was one of five men selected to draft the humble beginnings. Franklin’s father, Josiah, had Declaration of Independence, the formal document seventeen children from two marriages. Benjamin proclaiming freedom from British rule. was the fifteenth child, born in 1706, and the During the war, Franklin secured from France youngest son. Josiah was a candlemaker and soap- financial assistance for the colonies. He also helped maker in Boston, and he had to struggle to sup- formulate the peace treaty between the colonies and port his large family. Great Britain. He was present at Versailles in 1783 At first, Josiah Franklin planned to have when that treaty—the Treaty of Paris—was signed. Benjamin become a minister. But, after consider- He then returned to Philadelphia in 1785 to con- ing the expense of educating his son and the poor tinue his public service. He was a delegate to the financial prospects in that profession, he decided 1787 convention at which the U.S. Constitution Copyright © by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. that Benjamin should learn a trade instead. was drafted. Three years later, in 1790, he died. Because Benjamin showed an interest in read- Franklin’s long list of diplomatic and political ing and writing, Josiah apprenticed him to accomplishments is impressive. However, he also another of his sons, James, a printer. Franklin contributed to the well-being of the colonists on identified himself with this trade to his last days, an everyday level. His inventions include a stove even though he retired from his own printing that burned better than most, bifocals, and the house when he was only forty-two years old. lightning rod. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin Study Guide 9 Introducing the Novel [T] here are some books that never lose their recording events in his life up to 1758, the point at appeal. They are as vivid and interesting which Franklin began the most public part of his today as they ever were, and they will continue to career. Upon his death, Philadelphia gave him a be so until humanity itself has changed. funeral befitting the man who had, as French Benjamin Franklin’s autobiography is one of these. economist Anne-Robert-Jacques Turgot put it, It is the first American success story. “snatched the lightning from the skies and the sceptre from tyrants.” —from the introduction of a 1941 edition of the In his autobiography, Franklin mentions many autobiography, published by Walter J. Black, New York men—both English and American—who helped Benjamin Franklin was a prolific writer. In his many him, interested him, or challenged him with their pamphlets, he wrote about everything from paper views or their wit. On many occasions, he estab- currency to the “proper” relationship between a king lished friendships with men who “had read a little” and his colonies. He wrote scholarly articles about and whose conversation was therefore interesting electricity and other scientific topics, and his to him. Franklin was always drawn to people who almanac was full of practical advice on all manner of wanted to improve themselves, just as he did. topics. He also wrote hundreds of newspaper articles He notes that his rise from humble beginnings on social and political subjects. might serve as an example to others: Only in his autobiography did Franklin write Having emerged from the poverty and obscurity about himself. Although it does not provide a in which I was born and bred to a state of chronological account of his life, it does shed light affluence and some degree of reputation in the on the actions that Franklin took to rise from world, . [others may find my methods] poverty to prominence.Written over a span of eigh- suitable to their own situations and therefore fit teen years, the autobiography is generally divided to be imitated. into four parts. The first part of the manuscript was written in 1771 in Twyford, a village about fifty THE TIME AND PLACE miles outside of London. Franklin composed it for One distinguishing feature of Franklin’s the benefit of his son, William, who was governor of Pennsylvania was that it was a proprietary colony. Copyright © by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. New Jersey at the time. Proprietary colonies were formed from large tracts of Part Two, the shorter section, was written land in America given to individuals by the kings almost thirteen years later when Franklin was living of England. The individuals could supervise and in France as a representative for the United States. develop these colonies. William Penn’s father served Franklin devotes this part to his plan for self- King Charles I of England for many years. Even after improvement—moral perfection, as he calls it. The the king’s execution, Admiral Penn continued to virtues he sets out for himself are ones that he support the monarchy. During the English civil war believes anyone can attain with strong will and (1642–1649), the Admiral went unpaid for his ser- determination. Even as a young man, he decided vices. Upon his death, the government owed him a that, by industry and frugality, he would win the significant sum. His son, William, petitioned the respect of colleagues as well as influential persons in new king, Charles II, to pay the sum by granting his community. Given Franklin’s reputation, which him land in North America. On March 4, 1681, has endured to this day, it is safe to say that his Charles II’s government approved Penn’s petition. plan worked. Penn was given the responsibility of enlarging The final sections were written in Philadelphia the empire, furthering its wealth, and civilizing the in 1788 and during the winter of 1789. These were New World “by gentle and just manners.” Penn had Franklin’s last years. Although he was very ill, he “free, full and absolute power” to make laws for the managed to dictate the words to his grandson, colony. Of course, the laws had to conform with 10 The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin Study Guide England’s laws, and the king’s council had the right participate in or contribute to warfare, set some to veto any that didn’t meet its approval. groups apart from others. The residents of Pennsylvania, recruited by Pennsylvania was growing rapidly during Penn, were a mix of Germans, Scots-Irish, Swedes, Franklin’s lifetime. In the first decade of the eigh- Moravians from what is now known as the Czech teenth century, when Franklin was born, the popu- Republic, and English Quakers. Though the colony lation of the colony was approximately 15,000. By was founded on the Quaker principle of religious the time the Revolution began, there were 300,000 tolerance, the various sects kept somewhat to them- Pennsylvanians. Philadelphia was the largest colo- selves. Differences, such as the Quakers’ refusal to nial city during the Revolution. Did You Know? Franklin was not only a philosopher, writer, Franklin also was interested in meteorol- businessman, and politician, he was also a ogy. He was one of the first people to con- scientist and inventor. Most people are clude that storms usually move west to east. familiar with his famous lightning experi- This knowledge helped him and others to ment, but Franklin also dabbled in meteorol- make weather forecasts. ogy, music, medicine, optics, and In addition, Franklin was behind the first oceanography. official chart of the Gulf Stream. When he Franklin was practical. If he needed a served as deputy postmaster general, tool to help him perform a task more effi- Franklin noticed that American ships, carry- ciently, he created it. As a young boy he ing mail from England, crossed the Atlantic fashioned swim fins out of two pieces of more quickly than English ships. Curious wood and wore them on his hands to propel about why American ships were faster, himself through the water.
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