Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, Part 1 summary
Part 1 of 23 · 14 min to read the part
In Ancestry and Early Youth in Boston, Franklin addresses his son, traces his family's religious and working lives, and recalls the schooling and practical lessons that shape his childhood. His father abandons plans for a church career and seeks a suitable trade for him, but a dispute over a training fee ends a trial with a cutler.
What happens
- Franklin begins writing for his son, explaining his wish to preserve memories, acknowledge providence, and admit his vanity.
- He traces his English ancestors, their trades, their religious dissent, and his father's move to New England.
- His father first prepares him for the Church, then replaces grammar school with writing and arithmetic lessons before bringing him into business.
- Franklin leads boys in taking building stones for a fishing wharf, and his father teaches him that usefulness requires honesty.
- He describes his parents' character, their influence on his habits, and the memorial he places over their grave.
- His dislike of candle making prompts a search for another trade, but a cutler's requested fee brings him home.
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In this part
What to notice
The wharf episode tests his early leadership. His father's correction makes honesty a condition of genuine public benefit.
Quick check
Why does Franklin's trial with the cutler end?
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