# John Collins — The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin character guide

> John Collins in The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Collins, John, John ⸻

**First appearance:** 0004-i-ancestry-and-early-youth-in-boston

## Who they are

Franklin's boyhood friend from Boston who later fell into debt and drink.

## Relationships

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

_friendship_

Collins borrowed money from Vernon on Franklin's behalf, leading to a debt that strained their relations.

## In the story

### [I: Ancestry and Early Youth in Boston](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/i-ancestry-and-early-youth-in-boston)

Not directly mentioned in this chapter, but included as a placeholder; no relevant excerpt.

### [II: Beginning Life as a Printer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/ii-beginning-life-as-a-printer)

A bookish friend of Benjamin's in Boston; they dispute about educating women, and Collins helps Benjamin arrange passage to New York.

### [Arrival in Philadelphia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/iii-arrival-in-philadelphia)

Franklin's friend in Boston who knows his secret and keeps it when Franklin writes to him.

### [VII: Beginning Business in Philadelphia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/vii-beginning-business-in-philadelphia)

Mentioned as perverted by Franklin's deist arguments, later wronged Franklin.

## Links

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