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THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
THE
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
WITH INTRODUCTION AND NOTES EDITED
BY CHARLES W ELIOT LLD P F COLLIER & SON
COMPANY； NEW YORK （1909）
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THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
INTRODUCTORY NOTE
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN was born in Milk Street； Boston； on
January 6； 1706。 His father； Josiah Franklin； was a tallow chandler who
married twice； and of his seventeen children Benjamin was the youngest
son。 His schooling ended at ten； and at twelve he was bound apprentice to
his brother James； a printer； who published the 〃New England Courant。〃
To this journal he became a contributor； and later was for a time its
nominal editor。 But the brothers quarreled； and Benjamin ran away； going
first to New York； and thence to Philadelphia； where he arrived in October；
1723。 He soon obtained work as a printer； but after a few months he was
induced by Governor Keith to go to London； where； finding Keith's
promises empty； he again worked as a compositor till he was brought back
to Philadelphia by a merchant named Denman； who gave him a position in
his business。 On Denman's death he returned to his former trade； and
shortly set up a printing house of his own from which he published 〃The
Pennsylvania Gazette；〃 to which he contributed many essays； and which
he made a medium for agitating a variety of local reforms。 In 1732 he
began to issue his famous 〃Poor Richard's Almanac〃 for the enrichment of
which he borrowed or composed those pithy utterances of worldly wisdom
which are the basis of a large part of his popular reputation。 In 1758； the
year in which he ceases writing for the Almanac； he printed in it 〃Father
Abraham's Sermon；〃 now regarded as the most famous piece of literature
produced in Colonial America。
Meantime Franklin was concerning himself more and more with
public affairs。 He set forth a scheme for an Academy； which was taken up
later and finally developed into the University of Pennsylvania； and he
founded an 〃American Philosophical Society〃 for the purpose of enabling
scientific men to communicate their discoveries to one another。 He himself
had already begun his electrical researches； which； with other scientific
inquiries； he called on in the intervals of money…making and politics to the
end of his life。 In 1748 he sold his business in order to get leisure for study；
having now acquired comparative wealth； and in a few years he had made
discoveries that gave him a reputation with the learned throughout Europe。
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THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
In politics he proved very able both as an administrator and as a
controversialist； but his record as an office…holder is stained by the use he
made of his position to advance his relatives。 His most notable service in
home politics was his reform of the postal system； but his fame as a
statesman rests chiefly on his services in connection with the relations of
the Colonies with Great Britain； and later with France。 In 1757 he was sent
to England to protest against the influence of the Penns in the government
of the colony； and for five years he remained there； striving to enlighten
the people and the ministry of England as to Colonial conditions。 On his
return to America he played an honorable part in the Paxton affair； through
which he lost his seat in the Assembly； but in 1764 he was again
despatched to England as agent for the colony； this time to petition the
King to resume the government from the hands of the proprietors。 In
London he actively opposed the proposed Stamp Act； but lost the credit
for this and much of his popularity through his securing for a friend the
office of stamp agent in America。 Even his effective work in helping to
obtain the repeal of the act left him still a suspect； but he continued his
efforts to present the case for the Colonies as the troubles thickened
toward the crisis of the Revolution。 In 1767 he crossed to France； where
he was received with honor； but before his return home in 1775 he lost his
position as postmaster through his share in divulging to Massachusetts the
famous letter of Hutchinson and Oliver。 On his arrival in Philadelphia he
was chosen a member of the Continental Congress and in 1777 he was
despatched to France as commissioner for the United States。 Here he
remained till 1785； the favorite of French society； and with such success
did he conduct the affairs of his country that when he finally returned he
received a place only second to that of Washington as the champion of
American independence。 He died on April 17； 1790。
The first five chapters of the Autobiography were composed in
England in 1771； continued in 1784…5； and again in 1788； at which date he
brought it down to 1757。 After a most extraordinary series of adventures；
the original form of the manuscript was finally printed by Mr。 John
Bigelow； and is here reproduced in recognition of its value as a picture of
one of the most notable personalities of Colonial times； and of its
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THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
acknowledged rank as one of the great autobiographies of the world。
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THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN HIS
AUTOBIOGRAPHY 1706…1757
TWYFORD； at the Bishop of St。 Asaph's； 1771。
The country…seat of Bishop Shipley； the good bishop； as Dr。
Franklin used to style him。B。
DEAR SON： I have ever had pleasure in obtaining any little anecdotes
of my ancestors。 You may remember the inquiries I made among the
remains of my relations when you were with me in England； and the
journey I undertook for that purpose。 Imagining it may be equally
agreeable to you to know the circumstances of my life； many of which
you are yet unacquainted with； and expecting the enjoyment of a week's
uninterrupted leisure in my present country retirement； I sit down to write
them for you。 To which I have besides some other inducements。 Having
emerged from the poverty and obscurity in which I was born and bred； to a
state of affluence and some degree of reputation in the world； and having
gone so far through life with a considerable share of felicity； the
conducing means I made use of； which with the blessing of God so well
succeeded； my posterity may like to know； as they may find some of them
suitable to their own situations； and therefore fit to be imitated。
After the words 〃agreeable to〃 the words 〃some of〃 were
interlined and afterward effaced。B。
That felicity； when I reflected on it； has induced me sometimes to say；
that were it offered to my choice； I should have no objection to a repetition
of the same life from its beginning； only asking the advantages authors
have in a second edition to correct some faults of the first。 So I might；
besides correcting the faults； change some sinister accidents and events of
it for others more favorable。 But though this were denied； I should still
accept the offer。 Since such a repetition is not to be expected； the next
thing most like living one's life over again seems to be a recollection of
that life； and to make that recollection as durable as possible by putting it
down in writing。
Hereby； too； I shall indulge the inclination so natural in old men； to be
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THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
talking of themselves and their own past actions； and I shall indulge it
without being tiresome to others； who； through respect to age； might
conceive themselves obliged to give me a hearing； since this m