Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

After spending time in Philadelphia, Franklin deems both Keimer and Bradford “poorly qualified” in their field. However, he continues to work for Keimer and eventually moves in with John Read, who is the father of his future wife, Deborah. He establishes a social life among other like-minded “young People of the Town, that were Lovers of Reading” (31).

As Franklin establishes both his career and social life in Philadelphia, he receives a letter from his brother-in-law, Robert Holmes, urging him to return to Boston, but Franklin refuses. Holmes shows Sir William Keith, Pennsylvania’s governor at the time, Franklin’s response letter. Franklin’s writing skills impress Keith, so he goes to see Franklin at Keimer’s print shop to encourage him to better the printing field in Philadelphia. Keith writes a letter to Josiah showing his support for Franklin's business endeavors, which Franklin will hand deliver to his father.

Arriving in Boston, Franklin describes his family and friends as being excited to see him, except for his brother, James, who views Franklin as selfish and arrogant. Josiah denies Keith’s proposal, but he praises Franklin for gaining Keith’s attention. Furthermore, Josiah tells Franklin that if he can save enough to start his own shop by his 21st birthday, he will aid his endeavors.

On his way back to Philadelphia, Franklin stops in Rhode Island, where he visits a friend of one of his brothers, Vernon; he asks Franklin to take some money that is owed to him for safekeeping once he arrives back in Philadelphia. After Franklin runs into John Collins in New York, Franklin befriends him, and the pair travel to Philadelphia together. Collins, knowing Franklin has Vernon’s money, continues to borrow money from him to fund his alcohol dependency, which Franklin defines as “the first great Errata of [his] life,” or his first great mistake (36). Around this time, Keith offers to fund Franklin’s printing shop and sends him to London to obtain the right supplies for the business. Franklin continues to work for Keimer as he prepares for his journey, and he actively courts Deborah as well.

During this time, he befriends Charles Osborne, Joseph Watson, and James Ralph, and they all engage in writing contests and debates. Ralph accompanies Franklin to London, where they meet important historical figures, such as Andrew and James Hamilton. On his trip, Franklin learns that Keith lied to him about his ability to help his business, and he spends a year working at a printer’s shop in a London neighborhood.

Before discussing his business endeavors further, Franklin writes on the “State of [his] Mind,” referring to his “Principles and Morals” (55). As a teenager, Franklin explores religious thoughts and beliefs and deems himself a “Deist,” or a believer in a higher power. He prioritizes “Truth, Sincerity and Integrity” in his interactions and relationships with other people, and he writes his own written resolutions to adhere to in his lifetime.

Arriving back in Philadelphia, Franklin quits his job with Keimer. He rents a house and starts his own printing shop with another one of Keimer’s employees, Meredith. He then discusses the debate and speech club, Junto, that he formed with friends as a space to have open dialogue on “any Point of Morals, Politics, or Natural Philosophy” (57). This club provides him with connections for gaining business from the Quakers. Over time, Franklin starts his own newspaper, buys Keimer’s newspaper—which has gone into bankruptcy—and becomes the official printer for the Pennsylvania Assembly.

Due to his printing business, Franklin earns enough money to pay off his debts and maintain a good income. Part of his success derives from the popularity of an anonymously printed pamphlet, The Nature and Necessity of a Paper Currency, which he prints in response to government debates. When his career starts to stabilize, he considers marriage: He struggles to find a wife due to printing not being seen as a respectable career. He reconnects with Deborah Read, who has been abandoned by her first husband. Franklin’s marriage to Deborah Read allows him to correct “that great Erratum as well as [he] could” (66). His next plans are to establish a library with the help of the Junto club, which he calls “the Mother of all North American Subscription Libraries” (67).

At the end of Part 1, Franklin includes a memo stating that this letter to his son includes familial anecdotes that are irrelevant to the public; he also reports that the American Revolution interrupts his writing of the autobiography.