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William Temple Franklin
William Temple Franklin, known as Temple Franklin, (February 22, 1760 – May 25, 1823) was an American diplomat and real estate speculator who is best known for his involvement with the American diplomatic mission in France during the American Revolutionary War. Beginning at the age of 16, he served as secretary to his grandfather Benjamin Franklin, who negotiated and agreed to the Franco-American Alliance.
The younger Franklin was also secretary for the American delegation that negotiated United States independence at the Treaty of Paris in 1783. He returned to Philadelphia with his grandfather afterward. Finding his prospects limited in the United States, he later returned to Europe, where he lived mostly in France.
William Temple Franklin, called Temple, was born in 1760, the extramarital (and only) son of William Franklin, notably an extramarital son as well, who fathered him while a law student in London. His mother is unknown, and the infant was placed in foster care. His father William was the extramarital but acknowledged son of Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, and raised in his household. While there is some speculation that William Temple Franklin's middle name was derived from the fact that he was conceived while his father was studying at the Middle Temple, that seems highly unlikely and uncharacteristically idiosyncratic. Temple was, in fact, born more than a year after his father completed his legal studies and was called to the bar. The more likely answer, in keeping with both 18th-century naming conventions and the political and social connections of both William and Benjamin Franklin, is that Temple was named for Richard Grenville-Temple, 2nd Earl Temple, an ally of the Franklins and a senior member of the British governing ministry when Temple was born.[citation needed]
Later in 1762, William married Elizabeth Downes in London, the daughter of a wealthy Barbados planter. After passing the bar, he returned to North America, but he continued to pay for the upkeep and later education of Temple.
In 1763, with the aid of his father, Benjamin Franklin, William Franklin was appointed as the last colonial governor of New Jersey and went to North America. He left Temple in foster care. William's position as a Loyalist later put him at odds with his father, and they broke permanently over it. William Franklin was imprisoned during the Revolution and was forced into exile in Britain.
Benjamin Franklin learned of his grandson Temple (his only grandson through the male line) on an extended mission in London, when the boy was about four. He became fond of the young boy but at first did not tell him of his full identity. He eventually took over custody, returned with the youth to the United Colonies in 1775, and acknowledged their blood relation. Now a widower, Franklin raised the boy in his household.
Temple, as he was generally known, accompanied his grandfather Benjamin Franklin to France in late 1776. From the age of 16, he worked as secretary to the American diplomatic mission during the American Revolution. Benjamin hoped the trip would round out Temple's education. Along with his cousin Benjamin Franklin Bache, Temple was educated further in France and Switzerland.
A bon vivant, Temple received his highest public appointment as Secretary to the American delegation at the Treaty of Paris in 1782 to 1783 largely through the influence of his grandfather. He never again attained a significant political post in the United States. Benjamin Franklin unsuccessfully lobbied Congress in the hope that Temple would be given a diplomatic post and believed that in time, his grandson would succeed him as Ambassador to France. His appeal was rejected for a variety of reasons, including political opposition to Benjamin Franklin and suspicions about Temple's relations with his Loyalist father, who had gone into exile in London. Thomas Jefferson commiserated with Temple over his failure to secure a post but wrote a letter to James Monroe that raised questions about the young man's temperament and abilities.
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William Temple Franklin
William Temple Franklin, known as Temple Franklin, (February 22, 1760 – May 25, 1823) was an American diplomat and real estate speculator who is best known for his involvement with the American diplomatic mission in France during the American Revolutionary War. Beginning at the age of 16, he served as secretary to his grandfather Benjamin Franklin, who negotiated and agreed to the Franco-American Alliance.
The younger Franklin was also secretary for the American delegation that negotiated United States independence at the Treaty of Paris in 1783. He returned to Philadelphia with his grandfather afterward. Finding his prospects limited in the United States, he later returned to Europe, where he lived mostly in France.
William Temple Franklin, called Temple, was born in 1760, the extramarital (and only) son of William Franklin, notably an extramarital son as well, who fathered him while a law student in London. His mother is unknown, and the infant was placed in foster care. His father William was the extramarital but acknowledged son of Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, and raised in his household. While there is some speculation that William Temple Franklin's middle name was derived from the fact that he was conceived while his father was studying at the Middle Temple, that seems highly unlikely and uncharacteristically idiosyncratic. Temple was, in fact, born more than a year after his father completed his legal studies and was called to the bar. The more likely answer, in keeping with both 18th-century naming conventions and the political and social connections of both William and Benjamin Franklin, is that Temple was named for Richard Grenville-Temple, 2nd Earl Temple, an ally of the Franklins and a senior member of the British governing ministry when Temple was born.[citation needed]
Later in 1762, William married Elizabeth Downes in London, the daughter of a wealthy Barbados planter. After passing the bar, he returned to North America, but he continued to pay for the upkeep and later education of Temple.
In 1763, with the aid of his father, Benjamin Franklin, William Franklin was appointed as the last colonial governor of New Jersey and went to North America. He left Temple in foster care. William's position as a Loyalist later put him at odds with his father, and they broke permanently over it. William Franklin was imprisoned during the Revolution and was forced into exile in Britain.
Benjamin Franklin learned of his grandson Temple (his only grandson through the male line) on an extended mission in London, when the boy was about four. He became fond of the young boy but at first did not tell him of his full identity. He eventually took over custody, returned with the youth to the United Colonies in 1775, and acknowledged their blood relation. Now a widower, Franklin raised the boy in his household.
Temple, as he was generally known, accompanied his grandfather Benjamin Franklin to France in late 1776. From the age of 16, he worked as secretary to the American diplomatic mission during the American Revolution. Benjamin hoped the trip would round out Temple's education. Along with his cousin Benjamin Franklin Bache, Temple was educated further in France and Switzerland.
A bon vivant, Temple received his highest public appointment as Secretary to the American delegation at the Treaty of Paris in 1782 to 1783 largely through the influence of his grandfather. He never again attained a significant political post in the United States. Benjamin Franklin unsuccessfully lobbied Congress in the hope that Temple would be given a diplomatic post and believed that in time, his grandson would succeed him as Ambassador to France. His appeal was rejected for a variety of reasons, including political opposition to Benjamin Franklin and suspicions about Temple's relations with his Loyalist father, who had gone into exile in London. Thomas Jefferson commiserated with Temple over his failure to secure a post but wrote a letter to James Monroe that raised questions about the young man's temperament and abilities.