# Sir William Keith — The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin character guide

> Sir William Keith in The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Sir William, Keith, Governor Keith

**First appearance:** 0006-iii-arrival-in-philadelphia

## Snapshot

The charming Pennsylvania governor who dazzled young Franklin with promises of backing for his own printing shop, then quietly failed to deliver.

## Who they are

Keith is the polished patron who takes an interest in the ambitious teenage printer and fills his head with plans for a London equipment-buying trip. His grand assurances prove hollow, leaving Franklin stranded abroad and forced to rely on his own wits. That betrayal becomes one of the Autobiography's sharpest early lessons about trusting flattery over written commitments.

## Relationships

### [Lord Loudoun](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/characters/lord_loudoun)

_professional_

Loudoun succeeded Keith as governor and dealt with the aftermath of Keith's policies.

### [Deborah Read](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/characters/deborah_read)

_social_

Keith was a family acquaintance who initially encouraged Franklin's courtship of Deborah.

### [Captain Holmes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/characters/captain_holmes)

_professional_

Holmes, a ship captain, acted as an intermediary between Franklin and Governor Keith.

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

_professional_

Keith patronized Keimer's printing business, but their relationship was transactional and strained.

### [Thomas Denham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/characters/thomas_denham)

_professional_

Keith recommended Denham to Franklin as a trustworthy merchant, though Denham later became Franklin's employer.

### [Lord Loudoun](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/characters/lord_loudoun)

_professional_

Loudoun succeeded Keith as governor and dealt with the aftermath of Keith's policies.

## In the story

### [The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/the-autobiography-of-benjamin-franklin)

Governor of Pennsylvania who deceived Franklin with false promises of patronage.

### [IV: First Visit to Boston](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/iv-first-visit-to-boston)

Governor of Pennsylvania who writes a letter to Franklin's father recommending he set up Franklin in business, and later promises to finance the venture himself.

## Links

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