Book Summary of the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

Franklin’s autobiography’s introduction discusses his motivation for writing it. It also covers his early years and the start of his professional career. When he was 65 years old and on holiday in the English town of Twyford, Part 1 begins as a letter to his son William. Franklin states that he wrote it in the hopes that his son will find it interesting to learn more about his father’s life. Ben knows that his life’s path from craftsman to statesman was uncommon. He wrote the letter because he thinks his narrative is not only fascinating but also one that his son might want to imitate. Franklin was a busy man, yet this period of his life gave him more opportunities for relaxation and creativity. He therefore had the chance to begin this memoir.

Franklin’s Genealogical History

Ben begins his autobiography by outlining his family’s background. He then shifts to his earlier years. He can date his ancestry back to the 1400s and the English village of Ecton in Northamptonshire. Franklin’s last name is most likely derived from the name of a class of English citizen. Additionally, he learned that, going back five generations, he was the youngest son of the youngest son. The family tree is from the family of his father, Josiah. Of Josiah Franklin’s 17 offspring, Benjamin is the youngest son.

Ben’s father had fled religious persecution and relocated to New England. Franklin’s family, who were primarily Protestant, frequently faced danger during this period as a result of Queen Mary’s rule. Franklin outlined his family’s practice of taping an English Bible underneath a stool. They did this so that, in the event that the religious police searched them, they might quickly conceal the Bible.

Franklin’s Move Away from Family Work

Franklin was pulled out of school at the age of 10 to work for his father, Josiah. This is partially due to Franklin’s poor academic performance despite his brilliance. Ben despised his father’s tallow, chandlery and soap-boiling businesses. Franklin’s father then made the decision to help him find a trade he would enjoy by encouraging him to watch other workers use their tools. This eventually served as the foundation for Franklin’s inherent curiosity and his capacity to create machines for his own scientific studies.

After some thought, Benjamin made the decision to become an apprentice for his brother James, a printer in Boston. Thanks in part to the abundance of books and writers around him, Franklin truly enjoyed this line of work. He studied the broadsheet “The Spectator” during this time to develop his own writing style. He had grown to love reading ever since he was a small child. Plutarch’s Lives, Daniel Defoe’s Essay on Projects, and Cotton Mather’s Essay to Do Good were a few of his favorites. Franklin’s passion of reading only grew as a result of his apprenticeship because he now had access to greater books. He would read while lying awake much of the night.

Writing

He was inspired to write his own anonymous paper by both his line of work and his love of reading. By night, Franklin would place it beneath the door of his brother’s printing business. This paper was well received by his brother and friends, who decided to have it published in the Courant. Franklin was inspired to write additional writings, later known as the “Silence Dogood” essays. James was enraged to learn that Benjamin was the author of these pieces. At the age of 16, Benjamin fled to Philadelphia as a result of this.

While working for his brother, Franklin developed a passion for poetry and produced two poems and one sailor song. Benjamin Franklin acknowledged that these poems were inadequate and that he was fortunate not to be a poet because his father, Josiah, disapproved of poets. Josiah thought that poets were usually beggars.

Debating

In addition to poetry, Benjamin Franklin also genuinely enjoyed debate. He had a friend named John Collins who was particularly wise and persuasive in his arguments. At the time, Benjamin enjoyed disputing with John. However, Benjamin advised his son William to steer clear of Benjamin’s bad tendencies from his younger years. The discussion over whether or not women should be educated was one that Benjamin remembers as being particularly contentious. Collins thought it was wrong. Franklin had the contrary position and was ahead of his time. Benjamin’s father once more read the lettered disputes and saw that Benjamin lacked Collins’ grace of expression.

Benjamin agreed with his father, which inspired him to improve as a writer. Benjamin would miss church so he could rewrite in the manner of Samuel Johnson, a writer for The Spectator. He would utilize these rewriting exercises to pinpoint subtle areas where Johnson’s work could be strengthened. Benjamin was a student of the “Socratic Method” as well. By using this technique, he was able to go from being contentious to, in his own words, a “humble Enquirer and Doubter.”

Vegetarianism

Being a vegetarian was another way that Benjamin Franklin was willing to defy the social mores of the day. Franklin read a book by Tryon when he was 16 years old. This book advocated a vegetarian way of life based on the tenets of nonviolence toward all living things. Benjamin was persuaded to switch to vegetarianism by this. This was a problem for his brother James. However, Benjamin strategically acquired the other half of James’ weekly food budget. Benjamin was able to buy and prepare his own food as a result, and he used the remaining money to buy books. Together with his boss Keimer, Franklin founded a group based on Tryon’s ideas.

Franklin was prepared to concede some ideas with which he disagreed, such as not shaving and observing the seventh day of the week as a sabbath. As long as Keimer concurred that vegetarianism was a part of the faith, he accepted these statements. Keimer concurred, but after three months decided to order a whole roast pig and gave up.

The Period Before the Revolution

Benjamin had landed a position working for Keimer so he could continue with printing. Then, a governor named Sir William Keith lied to him. William Keith made the offer to assist Benjamin in opening his own print shop but never produced the money. Benjamin, as a result, is stranded in London without any money or way to get back to America. He succeeds in landing a job at Watts, another printing business. He can establish valuable connections in this shop and gain enough money to travel back to America with his buddy Mr. Denham, who will help him find employment there. 

Franklin makes the decision to launch his own company after Denhamn dies and a second stint with Keimer proves unsuccessful. He and Hugh Meredith, his business partner, are handed contracts to produce paper money because of their early success. During this time, the company is expanding, and Franklin marries Deborah Read, his childhood sweetheart.

Ben formed the Junto, a powerful “gentleman’s club” in addition to owning the printing company. Franklin’s society is built on philosophical and scientific debating, which makes it very unlike a contemporary gentleman’s club. The Junto collaborates to create a subscription library of books on scientific and philosophical topics.

This is when the book’s first part comes to an end, and Franklin stops writing as the American Revolution begins.