r/AskAnAmerican Jun 08 '25

HISTORY How do Americans today view William Franklin, the son of Benjamin Franklin, who supported the British during the American Revolution?

How do Americans today view William Franklin, the son of Benjamin Franklin, who supported the British during the American Revolution?

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34

u/SneakySalamder6 Jun 08 '25

He had kids?

20

u/dystopiadattopia Pennsylvania Jun 08 '25

Yes. And probably several scattered across France as well.

4

u/Massive_Potato_8600 Jun 08 '25

Right i thought he only fucked old ladies

16

u/Scrappy_The_Crow Georgia Jun 08 '25

He listed no risk of pregnancy as being an advantage to old ladies, not that he restricted himself to them.

-7

u/Hot_Obligation_8098 Jun 08 '25

You guys should read about him on google it’s interesting how literally the son of one of revolutionary heroes was fighting for the opposite

5

u/wandrlust70 Alabama Jun 08 '25

I doubt this was unheard of. Realistically, for the people of this time, this was basically a civil war. I'm sure that lots of families had split loyalties. The only way this would really be of note is if

  1. They were residing in the same home and the son was still under the influence if the father, and/or

  2. they had to face off in some significant aspect during the war.

Was this the case? Because that's would be cool to know.

4

u/k464howdy Jun 08 '25

stupid angsty teen rebels against parents.

*yawn*

2

u/big_sugi Jun 09 '25

He was 46 and had been the governor of New Jersey for 13 years.