# The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin — Chapters explained

> Chapter companions for The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin.

- [The Story of the Autobiography](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/the-story-of-the-autobiography.md): This introductory chapter recounts the fascinating history of how Franklin's Autobiography was written and the adventures of its original manuscript. It describes how Franklin began the work as a letter to his son in 177
- [Epigraph](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/epigraph.md): Benjamin Franklin's will includes a bequest of one hundred pounds sterling to the free schools of Boston, to be used as a perpetual fund for awarding silver medals as honorary rewards to students.
- [The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/the-autobiography-of-benjamin-franklin.md): Benjamin Franklin recounts his early life, his apprenticeship to his brother James, his self-education in writing, his escape to Philadelphia, and his early career as a printer. He describes his moral and practical devel
- [I: Ancestry and Early Youth in Boston](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/i-ancestry-and-early-youth-in-boston.md): Benjamin Franklin begins his autobiography by addressing his son, explaining his desire to record his life's circumstances for posterity. He reflects on his ancestry, noting that his family had lived in Ecton, Northampto
- [II: Beginning Life as a Printer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/ii-beginning-life-as-a-printer.md): Franklin recounts his early love of reading, his apprenticeship to his brother James, his early attempts at poetry, his self-education in writing and arithmetic, his vegetarian diet for frugality and study, his dispute w

> 18 more chapter companions — [open a free preview](https://www.betterreads.dev/reader?bookId=franklin_autobiography_se_482kb&preview=1) to unlock the rest.

- [Arrival in Philadelphia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/iii-arrival-in-philadelphia.md)
- [IV: First Visit to Boston](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/iv-first-visit-to-boston.md)
- [Early Friends in Philadelphia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/v-early-friends-in-philadelphia.md)
- [First Visit to London](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/vi-first-visit-to-london.md)
- [VII: Beginning Business in Philadelphia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/vii-beginning-business-in-philadelphia.md)
- [Business Success and First Public Service](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/viii-business-success-and-first-public-service.md)
- [Plan for Attaining Moral Perfection](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/ix-plan-for-attaining-moral-perfection.md)
- [X: Poor Richard’s Almanac and Other Activities](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/x-poor-richard-s-almanac-and-other-activities.md)
- [Interest in Public Affairs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/xi-interest-in-public-affairs.md)
- [XII: Defense of the Province](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/xii-defense-of-the-province.md)
- [XIII: Public Services and Duties (1749–1753)](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/xiii-public-services-and-duties-1749-1753.md)
- [Albany Plan of Union](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/xiv-albany-plan-of-union.md)
- [XV: Quarrels with the Proprietary Governors](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/xv-quarrels-with-the-proprietary-governors.md)
- [XVI: Braddock’s Expedition](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/xvi-braddock-s-expedition.md)
- [XVII: Franklin’s Defense of the Frontier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/xvii-franklin-s-defense-of-the-frontier.md)
- [Scientific Experiments](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/xviii-scientific-experiments.md)
- [Agent of Pennsylvania in London](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/xix-agent-of-pennsylvania-in-london.md)
- [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/endnotes.md)

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters