Benjamin Franklin: An American Life

As the youngest son of youngest sons for five generations, Franklin was a “product of lineage rather than land” (6). Youngest sons typically had to move to other locations to make their living. Tracing Franklin’s heritage back to 16th century England, Isaacson notes that the original spelling of "Frankeleyn” referred to free men with property but no title. Isaacson theorizes that Franklin inherited his pragmatic independence, ingenuity, and love of learning from his great-great-grandfather Thomas. Franklin’s father, Josiah, emigrated to Massachusetts with the Puritans. Josiah’s motivation was both religious and economic. He was not a religious zealot and believed that religious and economic freedom were linked. To make money was to glorify God. Once in Boston, Josiah became a tallow chandler. He had 17 children, with Benjamin his youngest son. Franklin’s mother Abiah Folger, who was Josiah’s second wife, came from a practical but rebellious family.

Franklin was born on January 17, 1706, when Boston was a thriving commercial center. As a boy, Franklin showed leadership qualities and developed a love of swimming. He was close to his younger sister Jane. He once paid too much for a whistle for which his siblings ridiculed him. Isaacson explains that the incident made frugality a life-long virtue for him. Initially, his parents planned to send him to Harvard to prepare for the ministry. However, the plan was squashed most likely because Franklin did not have the personality for it. He was “skeptical, puckish, curious, [and] irreverent” (19).

Franklin became an apprentice to his older brother James who was a printer. Given his communication skills and love of books, the print trade was the perfect occupation for Franklin. His brother James launched the only independent newspaper in Boston, the New England Courant, in 1721. Unbeknownst to his brother, Franklin submitted articles to the Courant anonymously under the pen name Silence Dogood. They were the first examples of the classic American genre of folksy and wry humor. Written in a conversational style, the entries mocked Harvard and the church-state connection, and they highlighted hypocrisy. Franklin believed that confrontation was less effective than the Socratic method of gently causing people to make concessions. His essays were not therefore threatening and were popular. James abused Franklin, however, “treating Benjamin as an apprentice, subject to occasional beatings” (33). Humiliated, Franklin decided to run away. The relationship between the two brothers was forever frayed. Franklin left for New York on September 25, 1723.

From New York, Franklin traveled to Philadelphia. He famously arrived with no more than a Dutch dollar and gave two of his three puffy rolls to a mother and child (37). However, his personal magnetism soon attracted patrons and friends. He found work with the printer Samuel Keimer though he lodged with Keimer’s competitor, Andrew Bradford.

Isaacson highlights Franklin’s concern with appearances and reputation, calling him America’s “first unabashed public relations expert” (38). Franklin understood the danger of jealousy. As a result, he did all he could not to provoke that emotion in others. He was self-deprecating and unaggressive. Franklin came to the attention of the governor of Pennsylvania, Sir William Keith, from a letter Franklin wrote to his brother-in-law praising Philadelphia. Keith offered to set Franklin up with his own print shop if his family would help to finance it. When his family declined, Keith promised to finance the shop himself and directed Franklin to travel to London to purchase equipment. Unfortunately, Keith never provided the promised letters of credit. Franklin found himself bound for London with no funds. He was accompanied by his friend, James Ralph.

In London, Franklin went to work for a larger printing house. He initially refused to pay the initiation fee and was consequently treated as an outcast. Reasoning the need to be on good terms with co-workers, Franklin relented and paid the fee. His friendship with Ralph came to end over a dispute about a woman. Isaacson highlights a pattern in Franklin’s relationships with friends and family. While Franklin was quick to make casual friends, he was not so good at maintaining long-lasting relationships. In London, Franklin drifted from Calvinism but did not embrace a pure form of deism. He came to believe that God was best honored through good works. Benevolence became the defining credo of his life.

A Quaker merchant named Denham, whom Franklin had befriended on the ship to London, offered to pay his passage back to Philadelphia if Franklin agreed to serve as a clerk at his general store. Franklin accepted the offer and set sail for Philadelphia, which he considered his true home, in July 1726. Denham proved to be a man of integrity. Franklin resolved to be extremely frugal, apply himself industriously in business, speak the truth, and speak ill of no man (49). Isaacson observes that Franklin followed the first two resolutions but was sometimes better at making a show of the last two than practicing them.