Benjamin Franklin: The man who is versatile／吉岡英了

What will you imagine Benjamin Franklin? A one-hundred dollar bill? A portrait in the movie ‘Back to the Future?’ The author of Autobiography? As a matter of fact, his activities ranged from a writer to a diplomat in the transatlantic continents in the 18th century. VERSATILITY, therefore, will be a pivotal factor to study his work due to his diverse activities. At the very beginning phase of research of Autobiography, his versatility must be focused on with the last part of his career beforehand.

Title page of the original edition of the autobiography in French.

　　 His considerable, versatile activities are mainly classified into four elements: ‘Writing’, ‘social activity’, ‘scientific activity’ and ‘diplomacy’.

Franklin wrote a couple of crucial works in his writing. He launched Poor Richard’s Almanack in 1732, which lasted until 1757. Further, he began to write his Autobiography in England in 1771. The former were published in the form of calendar while the latter was literally the bible of autobiography.

Additionally, he exhibited his multifaceted capability in his social activity. In 1736, he developed his career from the beginning of a secretary of Pennsylvania Assembly after his business success, a postmaster of Philadelphia in 1737, a member of Pennsylvania Assembly in 1751. He also established a subscription library, a firefighting association, a university and a hospital. In 1754, he attended the Albany Congress as representative of Pennsylvania, participated in the first Continental Congress in 1775 and was selected a member of drafting committee of the Declaration of Independence. A series of his careers would demonstrate an aspect of his prolific capabilities.

With regard to his scientific activity, he also exerted his outstanding endowment thoroughly. He invented a ‘Franklin stove’ in 1742, which achieved warmth to people’s lives in winter. Furthermore, he took part in a tour on ‘an electrical experiment’ in Boston in 1746. He published “Experiments and Observations on Electricity” 　in London in 1751 and verified “homogeneousness of lightning and electricity” through an experiment of a flying kite in 1752. Accordingly, Franklin emphasized not only the proof of science but also the utility of science, i.e. ‘Franklin stove’, lightning rod.

In diplomacy, he played an important role in the middle of 18th century. He shipped to England to negotiate over the government as representative of the Assembly and shipped to Paris as representative of America to contribute the conclusion of the Franco-American Alliance, which resulted in the participation of France of American Revolutionary War. He signed Paris Peace Treaty in 1783, which the Great Britain recognized the United States of America. His savoir faire was also showed in diplomacy across the Atlantic.

Benjamin Franklin was an all-around, competent figure as above. A further research will be conducted so that the versatility may be a leaf of his capabilities. Hence, the text of Autobiography may be enjoyable with his versatility.

執筆者：吉岡英了　Eiryo Yoshioka

【Bibliography】

Primary Source

Franklin, Benjamin. Franklin Jiden [Autobiography]. Trans. Shinichi Matsumoto,

Masami Nishikawa. Tokyo: Iwanami, 1957. Print.

Secondary Source

Matsumoto, Shigeharu, et al. eds. Sekainomeicho [The World Classics] 33 Franklin,

Jefferson, Madison et al., Tocqueville. Tokyo: Chuo Koron, 1970. n.pag. Print.