# The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin — Chapters explained

> Chapter companions for The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin.

- [The Story of the Autobiography](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/the-story-of-the-autobiography.md): This introductory chapter recounts the fascinating history of how Franklin's Autobiography was written and the adventures of its original manuscript. It describes how Franklin began the work as a letter to his son in 177
- [Epigraph](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/epigraph.md): Benjamin Franklin's will includes a bequest of one hundred pounds sterling to the free schools of Boston, to be used as a perpetual fund for awarding silver medals as honorary rewards to students.
- [The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/the-autobiography-of-benjamin-franklin.md): Benjamin Franklin recounts his early life, his apprenticeship to his brother James, his self-education in writing, his escape to Philadelphia, and his early career as a printer. He describes his moral and practical devel
- [I: Ancestry and Early Youth in Boston](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/i-ancestry-and-early-youth-in-boston.md): Benjamin Franklin begins his autobiography by addressing his son, explaining his desire to record his life's circumstances for posterity. He reflects on his ancestry, noting that his family had lived in Ecton, Northampto
- [II: Beginning Life as a Printer](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/ii-beginning-life-as-a-printer.md): Franklin recounts his early love of reading, his apprenticeship to his brother James, his early attempts at poetry, his self-education in writing and arithmetic, his vegetarian diet for frugality and study, his dispute w
- [Arrival in Philadelphia](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/iii-arrival-in-philadelphia.md): Franklin recounts his difficult journey from Boston to Philadelphia, including a storm at sea, a night spent in a leaky boat, a fever cured by drinking cold water, and his arrival in Philadelphia dirty and hungry with on
- [IV: First Visit to Boston](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/iv-first-visit-to-boston.md): Franklin returns to Boston after seven months, bearing a letter from Governor Keith recommending that his father set him up in the printing business. His father refuses, judging him too young. Franklin then returns to Ph
- [Early Friends in Philadelphia](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/v-early-friends-in-philadelphia.md): Franklin describes his early friendships and intellectual pursuits in Philadelphia, including his relationship with Keimer, his courtship of Deborah Read, and his literary circle with Osborne, Watson, and Ralph. The chap
- [First Visit to London](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/vi-first-visit-to-london.md): Franklin recounts his first stay in London, working as a compositor, writing a metaphysical pamphlet, befriending booksellers and intellectuals, and experiencing a falling out with James Ralph over a woman. He describes 
- [VII: Beginning Business in Philadelphia](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/vii-beginning-business-in-philadelphia.md): Franklin returns to Philadelphia after his voyage, finds changes in personal relationships and business landscape, partners with Hugh Meredith to start his own printing house, forms the Junto club for mutual improvement,
- [Business Success and First Public Service](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/viii-business-success-and-first-public-service.md): Franklin details his advocacy for paper currency, which led to a profitable printing contract, and his establishment of the Philadelphia public library. He emphasizes his industrious and frugal habits, his religious prin
- [Plan for Attaining Moral Perfection](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/ix-plan-for-attaining-moral-perfection.md): Franklin conceives a bold project to achieve moral perfection by systematically cultivating thirteen virtues. He devises a daily examination method using a little book with columns for each day and rows for each virtue, 
- [X: Poor Richard’s Almanac and Other Activities](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/x-poor-richard-s-almanac-and-other-activities.md): Franklin describes the creation and success of Poor Richard's Almanac, which he used to promote industry and frugality through proverbs. He also discusses his newspaper's ethical standards, a partnership in Charleston, t
- [Interest in Public Affairs](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/xi-interest-in-public-affairs.md): Franklin turns his attention to public affairs, beginning with small matters like reforming the city watch and establishing the Union Fire Company. He also reflects on his growing business success, his partnerships, and 
- [XII: Defense of the Province](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/xii-defense-of-the-province.md): Franklin addresses the lack of defense and education in Pennsylvania, proposing an academy and founding a Philosophical Society. He writes 'Plain Truth' to rally a voluntary militia, leading to over ten thousand subscrib
- [XIII: Public Services and Duties (1749–1753)](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/xiii-public-services-and-duties-1749-1753.md): Franklin turns his attention to establishing an academy in Philadelphia, publishing proposals and organizing subscriptions. He negotiates the acquisition of a large building originally built for George Whitefield's follo
- [Albany Plan of Union](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/xiv-albany-plan-of-union.md): In 1754, as war with France loomed, a congress of colonial commissioners assembled at Albany to confer with the Six Nations. Benjamin Franklin, appointed as a commissioner for Pennsylvania, drafted a plan for uniting the
- [XV: Quarrels with the Proprietary Governors](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/xv-quarrels-with-the-proprietary-governors.md): Franklin recounts his interactions with Governor Morris, who despite a promise to avoid disputes, quickly fell into conflict with the Assembly. Franklin describes the ongoing battle between the governor and the Assembly 
- [XVI: Braddock’s Expedition](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/xvi-braddock-s-expedition.md): Franklin recounts General Braddock's ill-fated expedition, his own role in procuring wagons and horses for the army, the defeat and its aftermath, and the political maneuvering in the Pennsylvania Assembly regarding defe
- [XVII: Franklin’s Defense of the Frontier](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/xvii-franklin-s-defense-of-the-frontier.md): Franklin is appointed by the governor to lead the defense of the Northwestern frontier against Indian attacks. He raises over 500 men, with his son as aid-de-camp, and marches to Gnadenhut to build a fort. He observes th
- [Scientific Experiments](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/xviii-scientific-experiments.md): Franklin recounts the rise of his philosophical reputation, beginning with electric experiments in Boston in 1746 and the gift of a glass tube from Peter Collinson. He describes his own experiments, the involvement of Mr
- [Agent of Pennsylvania in London](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/xix-agent-of-pennsylvania-in-london.md): Franklin recounts his appointment as agent for the Pennsylvania Assembly to petition the king against proprietary instructions, his interactions with Governor Denny and Lord Loudoun, the delays in his departure, and his 
- [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/endnotes.md): This chapter contains the endnotes for the Autobiography, providing editorial commentary, historical context, and clarifications on various passages. It includes notes on Franklin's marriage, the structure of the Autobio

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