# George Whitefield — The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin character guide

> George Whitefield in The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** the Reverend Mr. Whitefield, Mr. Whitefield

**First appearance:** 0011-viii-business-success-and-first-public-service

## Snapshot

The spellbinding evangelist of the Great Awakening whose thunderous sermons Franklin admires even as he coolly counts the coins his preaching draws.

## Who they are

Whitefield sweeps the colonies with revival fervor, and Franklin, though skeptical of his doctrine, is fascinated by his oratory and its practical effects. Their friendship lets Franklin study persuasion at close range while profiting as printer of Whitefield's journals and sermons. The bond dramatizes Franklin's lifelong split between rational detachment and genuine admiration for charismatic power.

## Relationships

### [Samuel Keimer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/characters/samuel_keimer)

_professional_

Whitefield employed Keimer to print his sermons and journals during his evangelical tours.

## In the story

### [Interest in Public Affairs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/xi-interest-in-public-affairs)

Itinerant preacher whose powerful oratory draws enormous crowds; Franklin prints his sermons and journals, and they maintain a civil friendship.

### [XIII: Public Services and Duties (1749–1753)](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/xiii-public-services-and-duties-1749-1753)

His former hearers built the large house that Franklin later acquired for the academy.

### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/endnotes)

Mentioned in a note about his celebrated preaching.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/characters/george_whitefield
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/characters