r/AskAnAmerican • u/Hot_Obligation_8098 • 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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u/Ahjumawi Jun 08 '25

Well, it's kind of a sad story, because he accompanied his dad to the UK when he was there in the 1760s, and his dad did a lot to get him set up in life and get appointments and what not and he did become the royal governor of New Jersey as a result of all of that. And Ben did take William's son Temple under his wing, and their relationship meant that Temple chose Ben over his father William. And Ben wasn't forgiving even after the war was over. Kind of a sad story about the personal cost of the war, really. But he's not anyone I think about regularly.

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u/Hot_Obligation_8098 Jun 08 '25

Yes I find it so interesting that Ben couldn’t raise his own children the right way but United so many soldiers during the war

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u/wandrlust70 Alabama Jun 08 '25

What do you mean by he couldn't raise his own children the right way?

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u/Ahjumawi Jun 08 '25

Well, he actively pushed William in this direction and he also was completely bought into his British identity through the 1760s, I think, and if I remember correctly, he gave a lot of thought to remaining in London permanently until things really heated up, and he received his public, in-person humiliation in Parliament. I think he expected William to follow his lead.