The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
'The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin' Summary
Part One of the Autobiography is addressed to Franklin's son William, at that time (1771) Royal Governor of New Jersey. While in England at the estate of the Bishop of St Asaph in Twyford, Franklin, now 65 years old, begins by saying that it may be agreeable to his son to know some of the incidents of his father's life; so with a week's uninterrupted leisure, he is beginning to write them down for William. He starts with some anecdotes of his grandfather, uncles, father and mother. He deals with his childhood, fondness for reading, and service as an apprentice to his brother James Franklin, a Boston printer and publisher of the New-England Courant. After improving his writing skills through study of the Spectator by Joseph Addison and Sir Richard Steele, he writes an anonymous paper and slips it under the door of the printing house by night. Not knowing its author, James and his friends praise the paper and it is published in the Courant, which encourages Ben to produce more essays (the "Silence Dogood" essays), which are also published. When Ben reveals his authorship, James is angered, thinking the recognition of his papers will make Ben too vain. James and Ben have frequent disputes, and Ben seeks a way to escape from working under James.
Eventually James gets in trouble with the colonial assembly, which jails him for a short time and then forbids him to continue publishing his paper. James and his friends come up with the stratagem that the Courant should hereafter be published under the name of Benjamin Franklin, although James will still actually be in control. James signs a discharge of Ben's apprenticeship papers but writes up new private indenture papers for Ben to sign which will secure Ben's service for the remainder of the agreed time. But when a fresh disagreement arises between the brothers, Ben chooses to leave James, correctly judging that James will not dare to produce the secret indenture papers. ("It was not fair in me to take this Advantage", Franklin comments, "and this I therefore reckon one of the first Errata of my life".) James does, however, make it impossible for Ben to get work anywhere else in Boston. Sneaking onto a ship without his father or brother's knowledge, Ben heads for New York City, but the printer William Bradford is unable to employ him; however, he tells Ben that his son Andrew, a Philadelphia printer, may be able to use him since one of his son's principal employees had just died.
By the time Ben reaches Philadelphia, Andrew Bradford has already replaced his employee but refers Ben to Samuel Keimer, another printer in the city, who is able to give him work. The Governor, Sir William Keith, takes notice of Franklin and offers to set him up in business for himself. On Keith's recommendation, Franklin goes to London for printing supplies, but when he arrives, he finds that Keith has not written the promised letter of recommendation for him, and that "no one who knew him had the smallest Dependence on him". Franklin finds work in London until an opportunity arises of returning to Philadelphia as an assistant to Thomas Denham, a Quaker merchant; but when Denham takes ill and dies, he returns to manage Keimer's shop. Keimer soon comes to feel that Franklin's wages are too high and provokes a quarrel which causes the latter to quit. At this point a fellow employee, Hugh Meredith, suggests that Franklin and he set up a partnership to start a printing shop of their own; this is subsidized by funds from Meredith's father, though most of the work is done by Franklin as Meredith is not much of a press worker and is given to drinking.
Book Details
Language
EnglishOriginal Language
American EnglishPublished In
1791Author
Benjamin Franklin
United States
Franklin earned the title of "The First American" for his early and indefatigable campaigning for colonial unity, initially as an author and spokesman in London for several colonies. As the first Unit...
More on Benjamin FranklinDownload eBooks
Listen/Download Audiobook
- Select Speed
Related books
A First Year in Canterbury Settlement by Samuel Butler
In "A First Year in Canterbury Settlement," take a leap back in time to the raw, untamed days of European colonization in 19th-century New Zealand. Sa...
The Life of Charles G. Finney by Aaron Merritt Hills
A.M. Hills, theologian and preacher in the Wesleyan holiness tradition, gives us a detailed biography of Charles G. Finney, one of the most influentia...
Little Journeys to the Homes of Great Lovers by Elbert Hubbard
It explores the lives and relationships of famous couples throughout history, including Napoleon and Josephine, Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett...
The Colored Cadet at West Point by Henry Flipper
In 1876, Johnson Chestnut Whittaker another African American, was admitted to the academy. But one day he was discovered beaten, bound and unconscious...
William Lloyd Garrison, the Abolitionist by Archibald Grimké
"The author of this volume desires . . . to say . . . that it is his earnest hope that this record of a hero may be an aid to brave and true living in...
William the Third by Henry Duff Traill
This is a captivating biography that provides an insightful exploration of the life and reign of one of England's most significant monarchs. This enga...
Life of Liszt by Ludwig Nohl
In "Life of Liszt" by Ludwig Nohl, embark on a captivating journey into the enigmatic life of one of the most influential figures in the world of clas...
David Hume and his Influence on Philosophy and Theology by James Orr
This book explores the life and ideas of the famous Scottish philosopher David Hume. The book was first published in 1894 and has since become a class...
Recollections of a Missionary in the Great West by Cyrus Brady
Brady was a journalist, historian, adventure writer, and Episcopal priest. As a priest he spent some time on the American frontier as a missionary. “…...
The Autobiography of a Slander by Edna Lyall
A gossipy old woman, an impressionable young girl, a narrow-minded curate, a letter written while bored, a scrap of dinner party conversation intended...
Reviews for The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
No reviews posted or approved, yet...