William Franklin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Franklin
FRSE
|
|
|---|---|
A portrait of William Franklin, c. 1790
|
|
| 13th Colonial Governor of New Jersey | |
| In office 1763–1776 |
|
| Monarch | George III |
| Preceded by | Josiah Hardy |
| Succeeded by | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 22 February 1730 Philadelphia, Province of Pennsylvania, British America |
| Died | 17 November 1813 (aged 83) London, Kingdom of Great Britain |
| Spouses |
Elizabeth Downes
(m. 1762; died 1777)Mary Johnson d'Evelin
(m. 1788; died 1811) |
| Relations | Francis Folger Franklin (paternal half-brother) Sarah Franklin Bache (paternal half-sister) |
| Children | William Temple Franklin |
| Parents | Benjamin Franklin Deborah Read (stepmother) |
| Occupation | Soldier, colonial administrator, politician |
William Franklin (born February 22, 1730 – died November 17, 1813) was an important figure in American and British history. He was a lawyer, soldier, and politician. William was the son of Benjamin Franklin, a famous Founding Father of the United States.
William Franklin served as the last colonial Governor of New Jersey from 1763 to 1776. During the American Revolutionary War, he remained loyal to Britain. This was very different from his father, Benjamin, who became a leading Patriot leader. After being held prisoner by the Patriots, William became a key leader for the Loyalists. He helped organize British military units from New York City. In 1782, he moved to Britain and lived in London until he died.
Contents
Who Was William Franklin?
His Early Life and Family
William Franklin was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His father was Benjamin Franklin, a well-known person in the city. William's mother's name is not known for sure. He was raised by his father and Deborah Read, who was his father's partner. William always called Deborah his mother.
When he was 16, William joined a group of Pennsylvania soldiers. He spent a winter in Albany during King George's War. He became a captain in 1747. As he grew up, he traveled with his father on many trips, including to England. William was about 21 years old when he helped his father with the famous kite experiment in 1752.
His Marriage and Children
When William was young, he was engaged to Elizabeth Graeme. Her family was important in Philadelphia. Later, while studying law in London, William had a son named William Temple Franklin in 1762. Temple was raised by others at first.
On September 4, 1762, William married Elizabeth Downes in London. She was from Barbados. They moved to New Jersey in 1763. Elizabeth died in 1777 while William was a prisoner during the American Revolution. She was buried in St. Paul's Chapel in New York.
William married again on August 14, 1788, to Mary Johnson d'Evelin. She was a wealthy widow from Ireland. William's son, Temple, later had a daughter named Ellen. William took care of his granddaughter Ellen. After Mary died in 1811, William continued to live with Ellen. When he died in 1813, he left most of his money to her.
William Franklin as Governor
Becoming Royal Governor of New Jersey
William Franklin finished his law studies in England. He became a lawyer. William and his father, Benjamin, worked together on land deals. Before leaving England, Benjamin Franklin helped his son get an important job.
In 1763, William Franklin was chosen to be the Royal Governor of New Jersey. He had asked for this job himself. The British Prime Minister, Lord Bute, secretly agreed. This was partly to reward Benjamin Franklin and to weaken a political group in Pennsylvania. William replaced Josiah Hardy as governor.
What Did Governor Franklin Do?
William proved to be a good governor. He got along well with the local government. He worked hard to make popular changes. These included improving roads and building bridges. He also tried to get help for farmers from England.
He helped create the colony's chancery courts. These courts dealt with fairness and justice. He also encouraged the government to give a charter to Rutgers, which is now a state university. He helped reduce the number of people jailed for debt. He even helped set up the first Native American reservation in America, called Brotherton.
The American Revolution and Its Impact
Father and Son on Opposite Sides
The American Revolutionary War caused a huge problem between William and his father, Benjamin. Benjamin became a leader for the Patriots, who wanted independence. William, however, stayed loyal to Britain. Their relationship broke apart.
Benjamin tried to convince William to join the Patriot cause, but William refused. In 1774, Benjamin Franklin was publicly criticized by a British official. Benjamin expected William to resign in protest. Instead, William told his father to accept it and leave his job. A historian noted that Benjamin "abandoned him."
William believed in the British Crown's authority. He was also a strong member of the Church of England, which supported his loyalty. His job as governor also provided him with a good salary. In January 1775, William gave a speech to the New Jersey government. He urged them to stay with England for prosperity. But the government supported the Patriots instead.
Capture and Imprisonment
William Franklin remained the governor of New Jersey. He secretly sent information about Patriot activities to London. In January 1776, colonial soldiers put him under house arrest. This lasted until June. After the Declaration of Independence, William was officially arrested. He refused to accept the new Patriot government.
He was held prisoner in Connecticut for two years. He was kept in towns like Wallingford and Middletown. He secretly tried to get Americans to support the Loyalists. When this was discovered, he was put in solitary confinement for eight months. In 1778, he was released in a prisoner exchange. He then moved to New York City, which was controlled by the British.
Loyalist Leader in New York
In New York, William became a recognized leader for the American Loyalists. He worked to get them help. He also created a secret spy network. He set up Loyalist military groups to fight the Patriots. One group was called "Bacon's Refugees." In 1779, he learned that Benedict Arnold was secretly planning to join the British side.
Franklin wanted to encourage a guerrilla war against the rebels. But the British Commander-in-Chief, General Henry Clinton, did not fully support this idea. Still, Franklin organized a group called the Associated Loyalists. They fought guerrilla warfare in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. In 1780, Franklin received official permission for his operations.
Life in Exile
Moving to Britain
The British defeat at Surrender at Yorktown in October 1781 made victory seem unlikely. In 1782, William Franklin left for Britain. He never returned to America. In London, he became a main spokesperson for the Loyalist community. Many still hoped Britain would continue fighting the war.
In 1783, he visited Scotland. He was asked to be a founding member of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
Relationship with Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin had dedicated his autobiography to William before the war. But the father and son never truly made up. Benjamin was firm about not helping Loyalists who left the colonies. This was during the peace talks in Paris in 1783. William's reputation as a Loyalist made Benjamin's position stronger.
The British government gave William £1,800 for his furniture. He did not get money for his lands. He also received a pension of £800 per year.
William tried to make peace with his father in a letter in 1784. Benjamin replied, saying they would try to "mutually forget what has happened." William saw his father one last time in 1785. It was a brief meeting to sort out legal matters. Benjamin suggested William give some land to his son, Temple.
In his will in 1788, Benjamin left William almost no money. He stated that William's actions in the war explained why he received so little. William Franklin died in 1813. He was buried in London.
Legacy and Honors
- Franklin Township in Bergen County, New Jersey, was named in William's honor.
- The borough of Franklin Lakes was also named after him.
See also
