# Benjamin Franklin — The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin character guide > Benjamin Franklin in The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Franklin, Benjamin, Dr. Franklin, B. Franklin, Mr. Franklin **First appearance:** 0001-the-story-of-the-autobiography ## Snapshot A runaway Boston candle-maker's son who taught himself to write, print, and scheme his way into Philadelphia's gentry, narrating his own rise with disarming candor. ## Who they are Franklin opens his life as a letter to his son, tracing how a hungry apprentice became a master printer, civic improver, and Enlightenment celebrity. His hunger for reputation wars with his professed humility, and he confesses vanity, errata, and youthful missteps with a printer's eye for a good story. These early chapters establish the self-made template—industry, frugality, and self-improvement—that makes the book both a memoir and a manual. ## Relationships ### [James Morris](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/characters/james_morris) _rivalry_ Political opponents during the Pennsylvania Assembly disputes over proprietary governance. ### [John Bigelow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/characters/john_bigelow) _professional_ Bigelow was Franklin's editor and biographer, compiling the first authoritative edition of the autobiography. ### [Le Veillard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/characters/le_veillard) _friendship_ Franklin corresponded warmly with Le Veillard, a French friend who helped preserve his autobiography manuscript. ### [Samuel Keimer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/characters/samuel_keimer) _professional_ Franklin worked as a journeyman printer in Keimer's shop before leaving to start his own business. ### [James Ralph](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/characters/james_ralph) _friendship_ Close youthful friends who traveled to London together, but later drifted apart due to Ralph's irresponsibility. ### [Charles Osborne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/characters/charles_osborne) _friendship_ Fellow members of Franklin's Junto club, sharing intellectual debates and literary ambitions. ### [James Morris](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/characters/james_morris) _rivalry_ Political opponents during the Pennsylvania Assembly disputes over proprietary governance. ### [John Bigelow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/characters/john_bigelow) _professional_ Bigelow was Franklin's editor and biographer, compiling the first authoritative edition of the autobiography. ### [Charles Osborne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/characters/charles_osborne) _friendship_ Fellow members of Franklin's Junto club, sharing intellectual debates and literary ambitions. ## In the story ### [The Story of the Autobiography](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/the-story-of-the-autobiography) Author of the Autobiography, began writing it in 1771 as a letter to his son; later continued at Passy and in Philadelphia. ### [Epigraph](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/epigraph) Dictates a bequest to Boston's free schools in his will. ### [The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/the-autobiography-of-benjamin-franklin) The author and protagonist, reflecting on his youth and early career. ### [I: Ancestry and Early Youth in Boston](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/i-ancestry-and-early-youth-in-boston) The author and narrator, reflecting on his ancestry and early youth in Boston. ### [II: Beginning Life as a Printer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/ii-beginning-life-as-a-printer) Narrator and protagonist; describes his childhood reading, apprenticeship, and early career as a printer. ### [Arrival in Philadelphia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/iii-arrival-in-philadelphia) Narrates his arduous journey from Boston to Philadelphia, his first impressions of the city, and his initial work with printers Bradford and Keimer. ### [IV: First Visit to Boston](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/iv-first-visit-to-boston) Returns to Boston after seven months, better dressed and with money, seeking his father's support for a printing business. ### [First Visit to London](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/vi-first-visit-to-london) Works as a compositor and pressman in London, writes a pamphlet on liberty and necessity, and forms intellectual acquaintances. ### [VII: Beginning Business in Philadelphia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/vii-beginning-business-in-philadelphia) Returns to Philadelphia, starts his own printing business, forms the Junto, and reflects on his moral principles. ### [Business Success and First Public Service](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/viii-business-success-and-first-public-service) Narrates his advocacy for paper currency, his printing business, and the founding of the library. ### [Plan for Attaining Moral Perfection](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/ix-plan-for-attaining-moral-perfection) Author of the plan for moral perfection; devises a system of thirteen virtues and daily self-examination. ### [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) Author and narrator; publishes Poor Richard's Almanac, runs a newspaper, studies languages, and becomes clerk of the General Assembly and postmaster. ### [Interest in Public Affairs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/xi-interest-in-public-affairs) Narrator and central figure; turns to public affairs, reforms the watch, founds the Union Fire Company, and reflects on his business and friendship with Whitefield. ### [XII: Defense of the Province](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/xii-defense-of-the-province) Author and narrator; proposes academy, founds Philosophical Society, writes 'Plain Truth', organizes militia, invents fireplace. ### [XIII: Public Services and Duties (1749–1753)](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/xiii-public-services-and-duties-1749-1753) Drives the establishment of the academy, negotiates the building acquisition, enters public service, and proposes civic improvements. ### [Albany Plan of Union](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/xiv-albany-plan-of-union) Projected and drew the Albany Plan of Union, presented it to the Congress, and later discussed it with Governor Shirley. ### [XV: Quarrels with the Proprietary Governors](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/xv-quarrels-with-the-proprietary-governors) Narrator and Assembly member who drafts responses to the governor and devises a method to fund Massachusetts' expedition. ### [XVI: Braddock’s Expedition](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/xvi-braddock-s-expedition) Narrator and central figure; procures wagons for Braddock, serves as commissioner for defense funds, and writes a dialogue to promote a voluntary militia. ### [XVII: Franklin’s Defense of the Frontier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/xvii-franklin-s-defense-of-the-frontier) Takes charge of frontier defense, raises troops, builds forts, and later becomes colonel of the Philadelphia regiment. ### [Scientific Experiments](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/xviii-scientific-experiments) Narrator and central figure; conducts electric experiments, corresponds with Collinson, and gains international recognition. ### [Agent of Pennsylvania in London](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/xix-agent-of-pennsylvania-in-london) Appointed agent for the Assembly, negotiates with Governor Denny and Lord Loudoun, and later meets with the proprietaries in London. ### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/endnotes) The subject of the endnotes, with references to his moral perfection plan, his lack of business order in France, and his views on church attendance. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/characters/benjamin_franklin - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/characters