Was Benjamin Franklin really what we think he was?

Born in Boston in 1706, Benjamin Franklin was a man of exceptional intellect, ambition, and curiosity. From an early age, Franklin stood apart from his peers, not only for his intellect but for his insatiable work ethic. Apprenticed to his brother as a printer, Franklin quickly absorbed the skills of the trade and used them as a springboard for a highly successful career. By the time he reached adulthood, Benjamin Franklin had already made a name for himself as a printer, publisher, and entrepreneur.

Franklin’s entrepreneurial spirit led him to establish newspapers throughout the American colonies, including one in Charleston, South Carolina. To support the growing demand for printed materials, Benjamin Franklin developed an impressive network of 18 paper mills. This vertical integration allowed him to dominate the colonial printing industry, supplying paper to printers from New England to the Southern colonies. His success in business was only one facet of his multifaceted life.

Many people recognize Benjamin Franklin as one of America’s great inventors and thinkers. His contributions to science and technology include advances in medicine, engineering, music, and of course, his famous kite experiment. While Franklin did not invent electricity, as is often mistakenly believed, his experiment was crucial in proving the connection between lightning and electrical energy. This groundbreaking work earned him acclaim in scientific circles both in America and Europe.

However, there is a lesser-known and more controversial side to Benjamin Franklin—one that reveals a British elitist – a man deeply conflicted about his identity and loyalties. During the formative years leading up to the American Revolution, between 1755 and 1775, Benjamin Franklin harbored a strong disdain for what he perceived as the social inferiority of Americans. He expressed little confidence in the colonies’ common people, thought them to be an uneducated, unrefined, and boorish people prone to mob mentality, and he deeply disliked the Sons of Liberty, viewing them as nothing more than common thugs. Despite being born in the colonies and having built his fortune there, Franklin longed to be accepted by British high society.

Franklin’s ambition to join the English gentry was no secret. He courted powerful allies in the British Parliament and sought royal appointments that would validate his loyalty to the Crown. Throughout this time, Benjamin Franklin portrayed himself as a proud British subject, often at odds with his fellow colonists who were beginning to agitate for independence. His actions and rhetoric suggested a man more concerned with his status and acceptance in London than with the growing struggles of the American colonists.

In his quest for political recognition, Benjamin Franklin often found himself in precarious situations. He tried to downplay his colonial roots while emphasizing his allegiance to the British monarchy. By 1773, Franklin had achieved considerable influence in Britain. He had persuaded many British aristocrats of his loyalty and earned a reputation as a trusted representative of the Crown. To many in England, Franklin appeared to be a man of the empire—someone who viewed America with disdain and Britain as the pinnacle of civilization.

But politics are never static, and Franklin’s carefully constructed identity began to unravel. By late 1775, his ambitions in England collapsed. His reputation suffered, and his position among British elites became untenable. At the same time, the colonies had grown wary of his intentions, seeing him as a man who had turned his back on America during its most critical hour. Franklin found himself caught between two worlds, accepted by neither.

Faced with this new reality, Benjamin Franklin returned to America in 1775 and embarked on a calculated effort to rehabilitate his image. He launched a public relations campaign designed to convince Americans of his patriotism and longstanding loyalty. Central to this effort were letters Franklin wrote to his former British allies, declaring them enemies due to their support of British oppression. These letters were widely circulated in the colonies, but interestingly, were never actually sent to their intended recipients.

This calculated move was part of Franklin’s reinvention. While many American patriots remained skeptical of his sudden shift in allegiance, they saw potential value in his international connections and diplomatic skill. As a result, Benjamin Franklin was given a role that would keep him at a safe distance from domestic politics both in the colonies and Britain: Emissary to France.

In France, Benjamin Franklin thrived. His reputation as a scientist, intellectual, and statesman earned him admiration among the French elite. More importantly, his efforts played a pivotal role in securing French support for the American Revolution—a key factor in the eventual victory over Britain.

Despite his earlier disdain toward America, Benjamin Franklin ultimately became one of the nation’s most important Founding Fathers. His signature on the Declaration of Independence and his role in shaping the U.S. Constitution cemented his place in American history.

Yet, the legacy of Benjamin Franklin is more complex than the popular image of the genial inventor flying a kite in a thunderstorm. He was a man driven by ambition, social aspiration, and a lifelong struggle to reconcile his American birth with his desire for British recognition. In the end, Benjamin Franklin may have embraced American ideals, but only after failing at his quest for aristocratic acceptance in England.