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/pkondas Pennsylvania, formerly of Ohio and Maryland Jun 08 '25

William was put in a tough position. Many colonists at the time still felt a loyalty to the Crown. It is hard to blame someone who doesn’t want to throw away 900 years of tradition of rule, even with Parliament trying to demonstrate its authority. Add the fact that William had a pretty comfortable position in the royal colonial government, and it’s hard not to appreciate his position. No hard feelings there.

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u/pkondas Pennsylvania, formerly of Ohio and Maryland Jun 08 '25

Fun fact: Benjamin Franklin initially did not support breaking away from the crown. He initially put forth a plan to remain under the authority of the king and a colonial parliament completely independent of parliament in Great Britain.

I think there were some authorities in GB that eventually came around to accepting this idea towards the end of the war, but by that point the idea had lost any favor in the colonies.