Key facts
- William Franklin, son of Benjamin Franklin, was buried in London in 1813.
- William Franklin served the British Crown and was forced to leave America.
- The American Revolution involved significant internal divisions, with many remaining loyal to the King.
- Historians draw parallels between the Revolution's family rifts and contemporary societal disagreements.
- Benjamin Franklin had warned his son about the risks of his loyalist position.
The burial of William Franklin, eldest son of Benjamin Franklin, in London serves as a historical marker of the deep divisions caused by the American Revolution, which was as much a civil war as a fight for independence. William Franklin, who remained loyal to the British Crown, was forced to leave America and was buried in the capital of the British Empire in 1813, over three decades after his arrest and imprisonment by American forces.
Historians emphasize that the Revolution tore apart families and friendships, a complexity often simplified in popular narratives. James Taub, associate curator at the Museum of the American Revolution, suggests that understanding these historical disagreements is crucial for contemporary America, stating that the Revolution is an 'ongoing event' that continues to shape the nation.
William Franklin's life exemplified the conflict. He served as the royal governor of New Jersey while his father, Benjamin Franklin, became a key figure in the Continental Congress advocating for independence. Despite his father's warnings, William Franklin refused to step down from his post, leading to his arrest and imprisonment. After the war, he eventually settled in London.
Author Daniel Mark Epstein, who chronicled the Franklin family's schism, views their story as a cautionary tale, particularly in the context of modern American society. He contrasts the highly literate colonial society, where arguments were more common than violence, with today's environment, which he believes suffers from educational deficits that hinder rational discourse and is exacerbated by easy access to weapons.