There is a lot to write about in the life of Benjamin Franklin. It would take a good long paragraph even defining his accomplishments in his long life of 84 years. Franklin was a self-made man. He was a successful businessman, philanthropist, statesman, diplomat, humorist, journalist, patriot, founder of the University of Pennsylvania, developer of the first fire insurance company, originator of the system of volunteer fire departments that are still used in small town America to this day, militia organizer for his home state, scientific inventor, observer and writer. The list of his accomplishments goes on and on. He was signer of both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States. His personal relational skills are seen as absolutely pivotal for America as he brought together people of very different interests and helped to forge the founding documents that made our America. One can easily make the argument that Franklin was the most important diplomat in U.S. history. He secured both the crucial French alliance during the Revolutionary War and negotiated the Treaty of Paris that ended that war. And at the end of his life he became a crusader against slavery.

Benjamin Franklin’s personal life was more complicated if on occasion, scandalous. While he was popular with men and women he was an unrepentant “Ladies Man” deep into his old age with a string of women in Philadelphia, London and Paris who were charmed by his charisma. He had a long marriage but lived apart from her for most of their marriage until her early death. As a young man he fathered an illegitimate son who would grow up to be the last royal governor of New Jersey. The Revolutionary War divided the Franklin family and time would not heal that wound. Father and son died unreconciled to each other.

His attraction to Americans today lies, to some degree, in Franklin’s understanding of religion. He was tolerant in an intolerant age, a skeptical rationalist who believed in a deist God. He saw Jesus as a fine philosopher and practical if misunderstood person–like himself. Franklin supported religion in general. He contributed financially to every house of worship in Philadelphia including the local Jewish synagogue. However, he never worshiped regularly, never belonged to any church and saw religious doctrines as unnecessary even unhelpful in a rational progressive society. Attractive to Americans today is Franklin’s gentle cynicism. While he was a tough negotiator and strong partisan, he has convinced Americans of his and every generation since, that he is a wise grandfather figure. If I could pick any group of Americans, living or dead, to have a dinner conversation with, Benjamin Franklin would be on my guest list. He defines the word “fascinating.”

Thomas A. Skrenes
Bishop