The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin 459FrankLin, bEnjamin The
Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
(1791, 1818, 1868)
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, one of the
most famous autobiographies in literature, was first
published in French in 1791, the year after Frank-
lin’s death. This version was incomplete. Franklin’s
grandson published a more complete version in
- In 1868 John Bigelow purchased the original
manuscript and published the entire work. Bigelow’s
edition is the one usually used for later reprints.
The Autobiography is divided into four parts.
The first part, which was written for Franklin’s son
William, was composed in 1771. The second part
is introduced by a memo from Franklin and was
written in the early 1780s. Here he says that the
first section contained family stories and that the
second was written for public consumption. In this
section Franklin details his plan to achieve moral
perfection. The third part begins with a note from
Franklin saying that he has lost many of his papers
in the Revolutionary War, but some were saved.
Among these are his observations on history and
yearly comments on his life. This section was writ-
ten in 1778. The 1818 edition ends here. Franklin
wrote part 4 the year of his death and it describes
his efforts in England on behalf of the colonies in
While Franklin’s autobiography does not cover
the Revolutionary War period, it does provide per-
spectives that have survived Franklin himself and are
just as relevant today as they were when he wrote
them. The book, with its development of Franklin’s
thoughts on work, family, success, education,
religion, and other themes, is a delightful read.
Suanna H. Davis
Family in The Autobiography of Benjamin
Franklin
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin begins with
a clear emphasis on family; the first words in the
book are “Dear Son.” In the letter, Benjamin Frank-
lin proposes to acquaint his son William with the
particulars of his life, offering it as an example for
others to emulate. He begins by detailing anecdotes
of his ancestors, thus establishing the theme of fam-
ily in the work.
Franklin reminds his son of the search made
for their remaining family in Ecton, Northampton-
shire. Here the Franklin family had lived since at
least 1555, according to the church registers, which
began then. In his readings, Franklin, who was the
youngest son of 17 children, discovered that he
was the youngest son of the youngest son for five
generations.
Franklin continues, examining other common
family traits. He writes that Josiah, his father,
apprenticed under his brother John, just as Franklin
later apprenticed under his brother. Thomas, the
eldest uncle, becoming a scrivener and a political
power in the county; Franklin notes the similarities
between Thomas’s life and his own.
The family tie-ins continue. Franklin was named
after his uncle Benjamin, who was “an ingenious
man” (8) and when Franklin was young his uncle
lived in their home in Boston for several years.
Franklin shows his regard for his uncle by mention-
ing that when pamphlets Benjamin had purchased
and subsequently sold were brought to his notice
after his uncle’s death, Franklin bought them.
Franklin develops his discussion of family with
his father who married young and had three chil-
dren when he moved to New England. There Josiah
had another four children. After his first wife died,
Josiah married Franklin’s mother, Abiah Folger, who
Franklin introduces as the daughter of one of New
England’s first settlers. His parents had another 10
children together.
While family is a positive theme in the book,
Franklin does not attempt to minimize problems
within his family. Franklin recounts that he was sent
to work for his brother James, a printer. This did not
work out well and Franklin is blunt in saying that
his brother often beat him. When Franklin was able
to leave his apprenticeship, he did so. After several
years he came home and showed off, which made
his brother angry. Despite their mother’s pleadings,
the two did not reconcile. But 10 years later they
re-established relations as James was dying, and he
requested that Franklin raise his son and establish
him in printing, which Franklin did.
As part of his development of the theme of fam-
ily within his autobiography, Franklin writes of his
courtship of Miss Read, who later became his wife.