There are among us great numbers of honest artificers and labouring people, who fed with a vain hope of growing suddenly rich, neglect their business, almost to the ruining of themselves and families, and voluntarily endure abundance of. Carl van doren, jane mecom, or, the favorite sister of benjamin franklin. My share in the library company of philadelphia, i give to my grandson, benjamin franklin bache, confiding that he will permit his brothers and sisters to share in the use of it. The life and opinions of jane franklin, jill lepore reconstructs a history of ben franklins favorite sister. Book of ages on apple books apple books apple apple. Her life here first narrated from their entire surviving correspondence ny. Selfimprovement and general education seemed the themes of his early life. Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, freemason, postmaster, scientist, inventor, humorist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat. January 6, 17051 april 17, 1790 was one of the founding fathers of the united states. Benjamin franklin was the youngest of 15 children, during josiahs first marriage to anne child. Unnamed mother, died when he was 10 years old unnamed sister mentioned in earlier seasons aunt eloise mentioned in one episode aunt sarah mentioned in one episode two unnamed sons in the novel billy cousin, mentioned in bless you, hawkeye about. Kidds excellently written exploration of franklins faith delves deeper into this mystery. Meet bens sister jane, historys forgotten franklin npr.
The life and opinions of jane franklin jill lepore. Other than that, she exists only in her correspondence with her brother. What were some of benjamin franklins favorite books, and why. Ben spends the day with the two kids visiting the library, the fire department and the pool. Its hard to overstate the intelligence and abilities of this man. Jane franklin mecom 17121794, favorite sister of benjamin franklin, was born in boston, the youngest of the 17 children of josiah franklin, tallow chandler, and of the 10 children of his second wife, abiah folger. While ben is on currency and splashed across textbooks. For centuries, the memory of jane franklin has languished in brother benjamin s shadow. Sep 21, 2012 jane mecom, benjamin franklins younger sister and closest confidante, died in 1794. Learn all about benjamin franklin, his amazing scientific inventions, and his contributions to the founding of america with biographies and original writings perfect for homeschool students of all ages. This is the story of benjamin franklins favorite sister, jane franklin mecom.
Apr 18, 2016 by weaving together the tales of benjamin franklin and his beloved little sister, jill lepore creates a richly textured tapestry of life in early america. Jane mecom, benjamin franklins younger sister and closest confidante, died in 1794. Jill lepore, national book award finalist and author of book of ages. January 6, 1705 april 17, 1790 was an american polymath and one of the founding fathers of the united states.
Captain benjamin franklin hawkeye pierce is the lead character in the mash novels, film, and television series. This book is a classic of the genre and has, despite a very difficult initial publication history, been published many times over. Oct 12, 20 meet bens sister jane, historys forgotten franklin. Bostons jane franklin mecom, benjamin franklins favorite sister. Nolan and his sister, olive, bring benjamin franklin to the future. Data was entered from the library of benjamin franklin philadelphia. The mysterious ocean highway benjamin franklin and the gulf stream by deborah heiligman and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. American philosophical society, 2006, which you can also link to from the library thing site. Benjamin as one of the founding fathers of the united states, but his sister jane was almost lost to history. Oct 07, 20 to bookry, cookry, thimble, needle, thread. He was the acknowledged illegitimate son of benjamin franklin.
Long did i endeavour with unfeigned and unwearied zeal, to preserve from breaking, that fine and noble china vase the british empire. Benjamin franklin s final speech in the constitutional convention from the notes of james madison. A noted polymath, franklin was a leading author and printer, satirist, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, inventor, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat. From one of our most accomplished and widely admired historians, a revelatory portrait of benjamin franklins youngest sister and a history of. Benjamin franklin 17061790 was a printer, writer, inventor, scientist, diplomat, and statesman. Franklin was active in france from 1776 to 1785, raising money for the american revolution. Her books include book of ages, a finalist for the national book award. The historical society of pennsylvania collection of benjamin franklin papers, includi. Nov 07, 20 jill lepores luminous story of the life of benjamin franklins sister is stitched together from fragments and scraps, a lifes remains a word with layers, meaning what is left of. His father, josiah franklin, had 17 children in total.
Benjamin franklins masonic connection and jacobin reign of. Jane was benjamin franklins youngest sister, and as. A biography of jane franklin, benjamins sister, it is simultaneously a fascinating look at early america, a meditation on one remarkable mind by another, and, implicitly, a biography of all the other janeshistorys anonymous and overlooked women. Introduction an exemplary memoir in the americans history, benjamin franklin s autobiography is one has caught the american audience over the years. Historian reveals ben franklins notsofamous sister. Though both book and film deal with the relationship between a mouse and american founding father benjamin franklin, the book, with illustrations by lawson, focused more heavily on actual historical events and personages, and included incidents from franklin s french career at versailles. Immediately download the benjamin franklin summary, chapterbychapter analysis, book notes, essays, quotes, character descriptions, lesson plans, and more everything you need for studying or teaching benjamin franklin. August 1734 prints his mason book a reprint of an dersons constitutions, the first masonic book printed in america. How benjamin franklin put the iron range on the map news.
Dec 19, 20 the story of jane franklin is the story of a woman living on the fringes of recorded history. Participants learn all about the experiments carried out by benjamin franklin and his british friends as well as trying their hand at practical investigations. Like her brother, jane franklin was a passionate reader, a gifted writer, and an astonishingly shrewd political commentator. Sep 27, 20 carl van doren published jane mecom, or, the favorite sister of benjamin franklin in 1950. Jill lepore is the david woods kemper 41 professor of american history at harvard university and a staff writer at the new yorker. It is truly fascinating to scroll through and take a look at some of the things that interested him. Fart proudly also called a letter to a royal academy about farting, and to the royal academy of farting is the popular name of an essay about flatulence written by benjamin franklin c. Ben franklin was born in boston, massachusetts on january 17, 1706. Thats just one of a multitude of striking observations that jill lepore makes about jane franklin, the baby sister of ben. Benjamin franklin 300 17062006 official web site of the benjamin franklin tercentenary. His youngest sister jane is mostly lost to history.
All nolan wants to do is send ben back but olive loves showing benjamin franklin all the cool things about this century. Franklins young inventors is our science club for aspiring scientists in key stage 3 ages 1114. A revelatory portrait of benjamin franklin s youngest sister and a wholly. Lepore grew so discouraged at the lack of material, she says, that she debated abandoning. We know her only through the letters responded to by her brother, and a small book a book of ages which lists no more than the dates of births, marriages, and deaths for her children, her husband, and herself. Nov 17, 20 jill lepore s national book award finalist book of ages.
Jill lepore interweaves her research on jane franklin, ben franklins sister, with her memories of her own spirited mother. Benjamin franklin a century before the smiths, benjamin franklin addressed treasuredigging. Jane was benjamin franklin s youngest sister, and as they were close in age they were also close in spirit. From 1771 to his death in 1790, benjamin franklin was in the process of writing what he referred to as his memoirs. To my son, william franklin, late governor of the jerseys, i give and devise all the lands i hold or have a right to, in the province of nova scotia, to hold. Jane franklin was an amazing woman who raised her children and grandchildren while still having the time to read and think for herself. January 17, 1706, is the birthday of benjamin franklin. Benjamin stone obituary 2021 dothan, al dothan eagle. Abiah folger was born in nantucket, massachusetts, on january 15, 1667, to peter folger, a miller and schoolteacher, and his wife, mary morrell folger, a former indentured servant. Gertie biography wins ibpa benjamin franklin award. The character was played by donald sutherland in the film and alan alda on television. We know remarkably little about the life of ben franklins sister. Benjamin franklin frankie stonebenjamin franklin frankie stone, age 52, a resident of dothan, passed away thursday, february 4, 2021, at southeast health. When she turned twentyone, her brother gave her a book, the ladies library.
Grand lodge of pennsylvania, the occasion being the celebration of the two hundredth anniversary of the birth of brother benjamin franklin. Books by benjamin franklin author of the autobiography of. Mar 27, 2020 benjamin franklin had a total of 16 siblings, seven of which were half siblings from his fathers first marriage. Its time to celebrate the best in independent book publishing live online. The life and opinions of jane franklin tells the fascinating, littleknown story of benjamin franklin s youngest sister, jane. The letter was written by franklin to his sister jane mecom from the house on. We can only see into her mind because her correspondent was famous and because a vastly talented biographer reassembled her for us.
The story of benjamin franklins sister and how women are. Benjamin franklin and his enemies by robert middlekauff. William temple franklin jr, known as temple franklin, 22 february 1760, in london 25 may 1823, in paris was an american diplomat and real estate speculator. I, benjamin franklin, of philadelphia, printer, late minister plenipotentiary from the united states of america to the court of france, now president of the state of pennsylvania, do make and declare my last will and testament as follows.
I read as much as i dare, jane franklin once wrote to her older brother benjamin. The real franklin was a philosopher, scientist, statesman, conspirator, and lifelong secretsociety adept. Ben had sixteen brothers and sisters and was the youngest boy in the family. His father was a chandler someone who makes candles and soap. Writings of benjamin franklin you never read in school by benjamin franklin is a collection of more of benjamin franklins more humorous essays. Six years younger that her famous brother, jane benefited from a particularly close. April 17,1790 benjamin franklin passed to the grand lodge beyond. Historian reveals ben franklins notsofamous sister here. Jul 11, 2017 jill lepores book of ages about benjamin franklins sister jane didnt win the national book award last night, but it reveals profound truths about sibling relationships and how far women have. The residue and remainder of all my books, manuscripts, and papers, i do give to my grandson, william temple franklin. The british life of americas founding father this important book tells the story of religions impact on benjamin franklin.
American diplomat, statesman and scientist, born on the 17th of january 1706 in a house in milk street, opposite the old south church, boston, massachusetts. This, however, is a cautionary tale about the differences between them, not in intelligence, but in opportunities. Books of american wisdom ser benjamin franklins book of. I could as easily make a collection for you of all the past parings of my nails, benjamin franklin wrote to his sister jane in 1767, after she asked him to send her all his old essays on politics. A captivating guide to benjamin franklin, george washington, john adams, thomas jefferson, john jay, james madison, alexander hamilton, and james monroe by captivating history 4. April 19, 1906 masonic services at his grave in christ church yard, philadelphia by the r. From wikipedia, the free encyclopedia jane franklin mecom march 27, 1712 may 7, 1794 was the youngest sister of benjamin franklin and was considered one of his closest confidants.
Plutarch, bunyans pilgrims progress, essays by defoe and mather,the spectator essays,wollaston deism. New yorker writer lepore masterfully formulates the story of benjamin franklins youngest sister, who will be virtually unknown to many readers, using only a few of her letters and a small archive of births and deaths. Benjamin franklins masonic connection and jacobin reign. Jane was the youngest daughter of the franklin family, and benjamin the youngest son. Ronald benjamin ronnie franklin obituary 1938 2021.
Her life here first fully narrated from their entire surviving correspondence. Book of ages, about ben franklins sibling the new york times. William franklin was the last colonial governor of new jersey 17631776, and a steadfast loyalist throughout the american revolutionary war. Ben franklin is arguably the most famous american ever. Mecom and franklin corresponded throughout the course of their lives, and some of their letters survive. Portions of the unfinished work were published posthumously as memoirs of the private life of benjamin franklin, first in french in 1791, and then in english in 1793. It was as if, in dashing off articles, hed been sloughing off pages, like a snake shedding skin. Jan 01, 20 the subtitle of book of ages, the life and opinions of jane franklin, is what drew me to request this book. National book award finalist from one of our most accomplished and widely admired historians, a revelatory portrait of benjamin franklins youngest sister and a history of history itself. George goodwin, author of benjamin franklin in london. Jane franklin mecom march 27, 1712 may 7, 1794 was the youngest sister of benjamin franklin and was considered one of his closest confidants. Last, but certainly not least, there is franklin s autobiography. Benjamin franklin house at 36 craven street in the heart of london is a heritage gem and the worlds only remaining home of benjamin franklin. A finalist for the 20 national book award for nonfiction from one of our most accomplished and widely admired historians, a revelatory portrait of benjamin franklins youngest sister and a history of history itself.
Benjamin franklins book of virtues benjamin franklin. Viking press, 1950 a b c d lepore, jill april 23, 2011. She recorded the births of her children in a book of ages and we also see her handwriting on a copy of one of bens books that he gave her. Jill lepore reconstructs the life of an 18thcentury woman, benjamin franklins favorite sister.
That jane franklin learned to write as well as she did was a twist of fate. William franklin frse 22 february 1730 17 november 18 was an americanborn attorney, soldier, politician, and colonial administrator. New york burning, a finalist for the pulitzer prize. For more details, see papers of benjamin franklin, volume i, pp. National book award finalistfrom one of our most accomplished and widely admired historians, a revelatory portrait of benjamin franklins youngest sister and a history of history itself. The life and opinions of jane franklin by jill lepore. A biography of jane franklin, benjamin s sister, it is simultaneously a fascinating look at early america, a meditation on one remarkable. The letters of benjamin franklin and jane mecom princeton university press, 1950. Oct 22, 20 as part of the university of wisconsins center for the humanities lecture series, lepore will be giving a talk titled, jane franklin s spectacles.
He is best known for his involvement with the american diplomatic mission in france during the american revolutionary war. The subtitle of book of ages, the life and opinions of jane franklin, is what drew me to request this book. Historian recounts life of benjamin franklins lesserknown. Last will and testament of benjamin franklin wikisource. The harvard historian has spent years, off and on, researching the life of the littleknown mecom, who was the closest person to her iconic brother, exchanging letters with him for 63 years. Book of ages is the name of lepores extraordinary new book about jane franklin, but to call it simply a biography would be like calling bens.
The declaration of independence 1776, the treaty of alliance with france 1778, the treaty of paris establishing peace with great britain. Meant to encourage her reading, the book was mostly a screed on. Jane mecom, the favorite sister of benjamin franklin. Abiah folger franklin august 15, 1667 may 18, 1752 was the mother of benjamin franklin, a founding father of the united states biography.
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