The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin [PDF]
by InfoBooks
Benjamin Franklin wrote his own life story across nearly two decades, producing one of the most influential autobiographies ever written in English. It covers his rise from a modest Boston childhood to becoming a leading figure in science, literature, and American independence.
You can download the free PDF of The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin right here and discover firsthand how Franklin shaped his character, built his career, and helped build a nation.
Few books offer this much practical wisdom in such an honest, entertaining voice. Open it and let Franklin himself be your guide.
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin
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Information: The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
- Author: Benjamin Franklin
- Publication Date: 1791
- Main Characters:
- Benjamin Franklin: The narrator and protagonist, a self-taught polymath who rises from a printer's apprentice to become a leading American statesman, scientist, and civic organizer.
- James Franklin: Benjamin's older brother and first employer, owner of a Boston print shop. Their contentious relationship drives Benjamin to leave Boston for Philadelphia.
- Deborah Read: Franklin's common-law wife, whom he first noticed on his very first day in Philadelphia. She becomes his steadfast domestic partner for decades.
- Governor William Keith: The governor of Pennsylvania who makes grand promises to help young Franklin set up his own press but fails to follow through, teaching Franklin a hard lesson about empty patronage.
- Josiah Franklin: Benjamin's father, a candle and soap maker in Boston whose practical wisdom and moral guidance influence Benjamin's early character.
- Brief Summary: The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin covers the first fifty-one years of his life, from his birth in 1706 to roughly 1757. Franklin describes growing up in a large Boston family, his apprenticeship under his brother James at a printing shop, and his bold decision to run away to Philadelphia at seventeen. He details how he built a successful printing business, founded the Junto discussion club, launched civic projects like the first public library and fire company, and pursued scientific experiments with electricity. The memoir also lays out his famous system of thirteen virtues, a daily self-improvement method he practiced for years, and concludes with his early diplomatic missions to England on behalf of the Pennsylvania Assembly.
- Thematic Analysis: Self-improvement and moral discipline sit at the heart of the autobiography, best illustrated by Franklin's thirteen-virtues project, where he tracked his own behavior week by week. Industry, frugality, and civic responsibility are recurring ideals; Franklin consistently argues that personal success should translate into public benefit. The work also explores the tension between honest self-reflection and strategic self-presentation, since Franklin was always aware of his audience.
- Historical Context: Franklin began writing the first section in 1771 while visiting England, and he composed the remaining parts intermittently until 1790, the year he died. The book was first published in French translation in Paris in 1791, and the first English edition appeared in London in 1793. It emerged during a period of intense nation-building in the United States, and Franklin's story of rising through talent and effort became a foundational narrative for the new republic.