The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin · Characters
Character guide
Key figures in The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin.
Benjamin Franklin
major
Also known as Franklin, Benjamin, Dr. Franklin, B. Franklin, Mr. Franklin
Author and narrator of the autobiography, a printer, inventor, and statesman.
Samuel Keimer
supporting
Also known as Keimer, S. Keimer
Franklin's first employer in Philadelphia, a struggling printer with odd habits.
James Ralph
supporting
Also known as Ralph, James, Jas. Ralph
Franklin's close friend in London, a poet and later a political writer.
George Whitefield
supporting
Also known as the Reverend Mr. Whitefield, Mr. Whitefield
Famous evangelist preacher and friend of Franklin during the Great Awakening.
John Collins
minor
Also known as Collins, John, John ⸻
Franklin's boyhood friend from Boston who later fell into debt and drink.
Thomas Denham
supporting
Also known as Mr. Denham, Denham
Merchant who befriended Franklin in London and employed him in Philadelphia.
James Morris
minor
Also known as Mr. James Morris, Mr. Morris
Pennsylvania assemblyman and deputy postmaster who worked with Franklin.
George Webb
minor
Also known as Webb
An Oxford scholar turned printer's apprentice in Philadelphia.
Colonel Dunbar
minor
Also known as Dunbar
British officer commanding the rear of Braddock's expedition.
Andrew Bradford
supporting
Also known as Bradford, old Bradford
Philadelphia printer and postmaster, rival to Franklin's business.
William Franklin
supporting
Also known as William Temple Franklin, Temple Franklin
Franklin's son, later royal governor of New Jersey.
Sir William Keith
supporting
Also known as Sir William, Keith, Governor Keith
Pennsylvania governor who encouraged Franklin to start his own printing business.
Lord Loudoun
minor
Also known as Loudoun
British commander-in-chief in America during the French and Indian War.
General Braddock
supporting
Also known as Braddock
British general who led a disastrous expedition against Fort Duquesne.
Charles Osborne
minor
Also known as Osborne
Young friend of Franklin in Philadelphia, fond of disputation.
Captain Denny
minor
Also known as Denny
British officer who served under Braddock and later became governor.
Deborah Read
supporting
Also known as Miss Read
Franklin's future wife, whom he courted before his London trip.
Gilbert Tennent
minor
Also known as the Rev. Gilbert Tennent
Presbyterian minister and friend of Whitefield in Philadelphia.
John Bigelow
minor
Also known as Mr. John Bigelow, Mr. Bigelow
Editor of the autobiography's first complete edition.
Thomas Bond
minor
Also known as Dr. Thomas Bond, Dr. Bond
Physician who co-founded the Pennsylvania Hospital with Franklin.
Andrew Hamilton
minor
Also known as Mr. Andrew Hamilton, Mr. Hamilton, Hamilton
Prominent Philadelphia lawyer who defended the printer Zenger.
Peter Collinson
minor
Also known as Mr. P. Collinson, Mr. Collinson
London merchant and botanist who corresponded with Franklin about electricity.
Tom Jones
minor
Also known as Thomas
A friend of Franklin in London who helped him return to Philadelphia.
Thomas Godfrey
minor
Also known as Godfrey
Glazier and mathematician, inventor of the quadrant, friend of Franklin.
Alexander Pope
minor
Also known as Pope
English poet quoted by Franklin in the autobiography.
Captain Holmes
minor
Also known as Holmes
Sea captain and brother-in-law of Franklin who helped him in Boston.
General Shirley
minor
Also known as Shirley
British governor of Massachusetts and commander during the war.
Deborah Franklin
supporting
Also known as Mrs. Franklin
Franklin's wife, who managed his household and business in Philadelphia.
Josiah Franklin
minor
Also known as Josiah
Franklin's father, a tallow chandler and candle maker in Boston.
Samuel Vernon
minor
Also known as Vernon, Mr. Vernon
Friend from Boston who lent Franklin money for his London trip.
Cotton Mather
minor
Also known as Mather
Boston minister whose writings influenced Franklin's moral project.
Hugh Meredith
minor
Also known as Meredith
Franklin's partner in his first printing business in Philadelphia.
Governor Denny
minor
Also known as Denny
Pennsylvania governor who clashed with Franklin over proprietary issues.
Captain Kennedy
minor
Also known as Kennedy
British naval officer who assisted Franklin in frontier defense.
Dalibard
minor
Also known as Dalibard
French scientist who translated Franklin's electrical experiments.
George Keith
minor
Also known as George Keith
Quaker preacher whose schism led to the founding of the first Pennsylvania press.
Hans Sloane
minor
Also known as Sir Hans Sloane
London physician and naturalist who purchased a curiosity from Franklin.
Stephen Potts
minor
Also known as Potts
A workman in Keimer's printing house, later a friend of Franklin.
Colonel Spotswood
minor
Also known as Spotswood
Former governor of Virginia who met Franklin in London.
Governor Clinton
minor
Also known as Clinton
British governor of New York during the French and Indian War.
John Fothergill
minor
Also known as Dr. Fothergill
London physician who advised Franklin on colonial affairs.
Charles Brockden
minor
Also known as Brockden, Mr. Charles Brockden, Mr. Brockden
Philadelphia scrivener and friend who helped Franklin with legal documents.
David Harry
minor
Also known as Harry
Printer who worked for Keimer and later started his own business.
Ebenezer Kinnersley
minor
Also known as Mr. Kinnersley
Friend and collaborator who helped Franklin with electrical experiments.
Jean-Antoine Nollet
minor
Also known as M. Nollet
French scientist who disputed Franklin's electrical theories.
Poor Richard
minor
Also known as X Poor Richard
Fictional persona of Franklin's almanac, dispensing proverbs and wit.
Joseph Watson
minor
Also known as Watson
Friend of Franklin in Philadelphia, later a successful merchant.
Riddlesden
minor
Also known as Riddlesden
A dishonest lawyer who tried to cheat Franklin's friend Vernon.
James Foster
minor
Also known as Dr. Foster, Dr. James Foster, Foster
English dissenting minister whose sermons Franklin admired.
James Logan
minor
Also known as Mr. Logan
Pennsylvania statesman and scholar who lent Franklin books.
John Syng
minor
Also known as Mr. Syng
Philadelphia silversmith and friend of Franklin.
Josiah Quincy
minor
Also known as Mr. Quincy
Boston merchant who visited Philadelphia and corresponded with Franklin.
Lord Mansfield
minor
Also known as Mansfield
British judge who ruled on colonial legal matters.
John Bunyan
minor
Also known as Bunyan
Author of Pilgrim's Progress, which influenced Franklin's writing style.
Daniel Defoe
minor
Also known as Defoe, DeFoe, De Foe
English writer whose essays Franklin imitated as a youth.
Abel James
minor
Also known as James
Philadelphia merchant and friend who urged Franklin to write his autobiography.
Le Veillard
minor
Also known as Monsieur Le Veillard, the Le Veillard
French friend who received a manuscript copy of the autobiography.
Wygate
minor
Also known as one Wygate
Well-educated printer's apprentice who traveled with Franklin in London.
Joseph Breintnal
minor
Also known as Breintnal
Philadelphia merchant and member of Franklin's Junto club.
William Parsons
minor
Also known as Parsons
Friend of Franklin who became surveyor-general of Pennsylvania.
Robert Grace
minor
Also known as Mr. Robert Grace
Ironmaster who helped Franklin with printing equipment.
Richard Saunders
minor
Also known as Frederick
Pseudonym used by Franklin for Poor Richard's Almanac.
John Hanbury
minor
Also known as Hanbury
London merchant who helped Franklin with colonial lobbying.
