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I watched some of the History Channel program on Ben Franklin a few nights ago. I think it was part of the series on American leaders. Anyway, it was interesting to learn about Franklin’s character, especially as he went to Paris (I believe it was 1774 or 1775) to lobby French assistance with the Revolutionary War. Also going to Paris was a fellow patriot, John Adams. According to the show, the two were almost opposite of one another in character; whereas Adams was an early to rise, work from the office straight shooter, Franklin was a worker of people, one who would frequent the salons of Paris by night and flirt with the ladies while getting personal connections in the French government.
Franklin was a already a celebrity when he came to Paris, and his arrival was marked by sales of portraits and other artifacts with his likeness. He took advantage of the conception that he was a back-country "hick" from Pennsylvania by wearing animal furs on his head when he would go out to meet with the French public. He was also an object of much female interest. Apparently his wife had already died by this time, and he was somewhat older at this time (I'd like to say in his 70s) but for some reason the French ladies were attracted to him.
Eventually, the Americans were able to secure some French assistance with the War after the Colonists won a battle against the English; this showed that French assistance might not be provided in vain.
Anyway, this show was an interesting profile of a Colonial leader who played a fundamental role in securing American independence.Ole' Ben was a lecherus old man (I do mean that in a nice way.) But a good bio to pick up on him is Walter Isaacson's 'Benjamin Franklin'. I was pretty good.
I think it might be interesting to read about him, since he was one of the more colorful figures of the American founding. It sounds like he consciously took advantage of his celebrity for political ends…not unlike some modern-day celebrities I might add.
For my current history class, we read Ben's Autobiography and I loved it. (Hence my site name, BensGal… ;D) He, very much, was a ladies man but I think this tendency may go along with his ability to “work” the people. Towards the end of the book, the editor included some of Ben's letters to various women in his life. Pretty interesting. He seemed to be a very caring man & I'm thinking some of his relationships were due to loneliness as he wasn't particularly close to his actual family in their early years due to work and political life. I also enjoyed reading "The Prometheus I & II" portion of the book, too. Ben Franklin was amazing, imo.
From his autobiography, their life together and her death are never covered with any intensity. So I can't answer that with certainty. He quickly explained that she was, in his opinion, the perfect help mate in family & business to him but after that short bit he rarely wrote about her.
From his autobiography... he rarely wrote about her.
http://fi.edu/franklin/family/deborah.html... not much. A bit more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Franklin#Deborah_ReadAs she died in 1774 (according to the sources) he'd have been at liberty to be a bit of a rake.
Thanks, Wally, for the links; both were interesting. My history prof made a comment before we began reading the book that when he (my prof) visited the graves of Ben & his wife, it was possibly the “closest they'd been to each other in decades”…okie dokie…so, I kept that comment in the back of my mind while reading his Autobiography figuring he hadn't stayed true to marital vows, maybe.
Waaaay back when I was in the 8th grade one of my classmates made an oral report on BF, closing with this line, “And until the end of his days he maintained correspondence with his many friends, he particularly enjoyed receiving letters from abroad.” Got a huge laugh at the time but seems rather more logical now, eh? 😀
I think Ben and his wife were “estranged” in a way, but he was devoted to her making sure she had what she needed while he was away for years at a time in Europe (London and Paris his favorite haunts). I think he returned to America when she fell ill and stayed with her until she died….I could be mistaken though.
LOL at the phrasing of your classmate, Wally. And being "estranged" makes much more sense, imo.
Her intent was correct and here correctness was unintended 8)... and you are quite right about estranged making more sense.
Ben Franklin couldnt have been much of a Ladies man, Being it was 1776 at the time and he himself was in his 70's. The invention of Viagra was not around. so a good most of what you read online or in books about his great exploites is, well, a bunch of crap. 😀 But you have to love his quotes none the less.
Good point about the age of Ben Franklin as a potential obstacle for him to have a true status as a “ladies man”. However, I think the history is true that he had a certain celebrity when he made his way to Paris to rally support for the war.
Ben Franklin couldnt have been much of a Ladies man, Being it was 1776 at the time and he himself was in his 70's. The invention of Viagra was not around. so a good most of what you read online or in books about his great exploites is, well, a bunch of crap. 😀 But you have to love his quotes none the less.
I wouldn't underestimate the sex lives of senior citizens. Here in Florida in a retirement town called the Villages, STDs are running rampant. Also, Franklin was a scientist - maybe he mixed his own viagraesque cocktails.
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