Talk:Benjamin Franklin

Slaves and slavery

I believe Franklin owned slaves, but he set them free. I have searched through the article and could not find any information on slaves and slavery. I believe Franklin's views on slavery and the fact he owned slaves needs to be mentioned in the article. Cmguy777 (talk) 15:44, 22 March 2013 (UTC)

yes late in life Franklin signed petitions against slavery, after decades of his owning one or more slaves. Nash has a good article you can use & I will email a copy Rjensen (talk) 15:54, 22 March 2013 (UTC)

Thanks Rjensen. Cmguy777 (talk) 16:10, 22 March 2013 (UTC)

Source: Hoffer (2011), When Benjamin Franklin Met the Reverend Whitefield: Enlightenment, Revival, and the Power of the Printed Word, pp. 30-31

Apparently slaves were quite numerous in Quaker New England during French Indian War. Franklin owned two slaves from 1735 to 1757. In 1750, Franklin purchased a married slave couple. Cmguy777 (talk) 16:08, 22 March 2013 (UTC)

According to Nash, Franklin owned seven slaves and was active in the slave trade at his general store including printing ads in his newspaper to capture runaway slaves. This information, I believe, would be good for the article. Cmguy777 (talk) 16:45, 22 March 2013 (UTC)

Here is a sample edit:

• "During Franklin's lifetime slaves were numerous in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1750, half the persons in Philadelphia who had established probate estates owned slaves. Dock workers in the city consisted of 15% slaves. Franklin owned as many as seven slaves, two males of whom worked in his household and his shop. Franklin posted paid ads for the sale of slaves and for the capture of runaway slaves and allowed the sale of slaves in his general store. Franklin, however, later became a "cautious abolitionst" and became an outspoken critic of landed gentry slavery. In 1758, Franklin advocated the opening of a school for the education of black slaves in Philadephia. After returning from England in 1762, Franklin become more anti-slavery in his view believing that the institution promoted black degredation, rather then that blacks were inherently inferior. By 1770, Franklin had freed his slaves and attacked the system of slavery and the international slave trade."Cmguy777 (talk) 19:34, 22 March 2013 (UTC)

I would need page numbers for the Nash information. Cmguy777 (talk) 03:42, 10 April 2013 (UTC)

Feedback

Informed feedback is needed on the Thomas Jefferson talk page regarding whether we should list Architect in the info box on that page. The issue has been discussed at length there in the upper sections. -- Gwillhickers 15:26, 29 August 2013 (UTC)

Letter to Thomas Paine?

The letter Franklin writes is to an unknown atheist. At what point was it proven that the letter was to Thomas Paine? 209.184.116.187 (talk) 14:13, 14 September 2013 (UTC)

Franklin stove

Why no mention of the Franklin stove? This great invention should surely be mentioned somewhere in the article. He is remembered by many common folk for this great improvement to everyday living. 86.164.161.64 (talk) 10:06, 26 September 2013 (UTC)

It is mentioned (and linked to) in the lead paragraph.--JayJasper (talk) 18:57, 26 September 2013 (UTC)

And that's all: nothing else at all, even in the "inventions section". How about a bit of balance in this article? 86.164.161.64 (talk) 21:30, 26 September 2013 (UTC)

Edit request ...

This in the Chess section needs a fix:

"This essay in praise of chess and prescribing a code of behavior for it has been widely reprinted and translated."

Maybe remove "for it" ...GretDrabba (talk) 18:36, 8 October 2013 (UTC)

 Sort of done – I clarified the "it" in the phrase to hopefully make it (the phrase) less nebulous. – Paine Ellsworth ^CLIMAX! 01:37, 9 October 2013 (UTC)

That change you made is perfect, thanks.GretDrabba (talk) 15:03, 9 October 2013 (UTC)

Grandfather of traction kiting

Benjamin Franklin is cited by George Pocock in a major noteworthy book for Ben's youthful experiment of being pulled across body of water by use of kite power. The True Benjamin Franklin, by Sydney George Fisher is a possible reference for Ben's experience. A major Pocock work so mentions Ben in an important way: A TREATISE on The Aeropleustic Art, or Navigation in the Air, by means of Kites, or Buoyant Sails: with a description of the Charvolant, or Kite Carriage, and containing numerous most amusing and interesting anecdotes connected with several extraordinary excursions both by sea and land. Later in life Ben would recall and forward his findings into suggesting pulling ships by kite power. The matter is a seed to the noteworthy explosion of sports and commerce of pulling people and hulls by kites. I suggest that some editor form a section in the Benjamin Franklin article to trace the matter and the large notes and art that respect that youthful scientific experience. Joefaust (talk) 16:44, 17 October 2013 (UTC)