(Thomas), D.D. chaplain in ordinary to his majesty, was the son of Richard Franklin, well known as the printer of an anti-ministerial paper called The Craftsman; in the conduct of which he received great affluence from Lord Bolingbroke, Mr Pulteney, and other excellent writers, who then opposed Sir Robert Walpole's measures. By the advice of the second of these gentlemen, young Franklin was devoted to the church, with a promise of being provided for by the patriot; who afterwards forgot his undertaking, and then entirely neglected him. He was educated at Westminster-school; from whence he went to the university of Cambridge, where he became fellow of Trinity college, and was sometime Greek professor. In Dec. 1758, he was instituted vicar of Ware and Thundridge; which, with the lectureship of St Paul, Covent-Garden, and a chapel in Queen-street, were all the preferments he held till he obtained the rectory of Braintree in Kent. This gentleman was possessed of no inconsiderable share of learning and poetical abilities, and was long a favourite in the literary world. His translations of Phalaris, Sophocles, and Lucian, equally evince his learning and his genius, as they are not more distinguished for fidelity in the version, than congeniality with the spirit of the admirable originals. Dr Franklin, like Mr Foote, suffered a translation from the French to be printed in his name; but the Orestes and Elektra are supposed to be all that were really by him. It was a translation of Voltaire's works, to which also Dr Smollett's name appears. His own dramatic compositions, of which the principal are the tragedies of The Earl of Warwick and Matilda, are universally known, and deservedly esteemed by the public; so that his death, which happened March 15, 1784, may be considered as a loss to the republic of letters.

(Dr Benjamin), one of the most celebrated philosophers and politicians of the present age, was born at Boston in North America in the year 1706. His father was a tallow-chandler; whose house he quitted before the age of 14, in order to go to Philadelphia, where he was introduced to the only printer established in that city. This person, being struck with his appearance and manner, took him into his house, and instructed him in his art; and Franklin, by his disposition, genius, and diligence, soon deserved and increased the favourable opinion that had been entertained of him by his master. Nor was he less agreeable to those who visited the printing-house out of curiosity: for the typographical art being then almost unknown in those parts, great numbers were attracted by the mystery; and were so well pleased with the skill, activity, and communicative manner of our young operator, that they seldom went away without leaving him some marks of their liberality.

Here he soon began to manifest that love of learning and thirst after knowledge for which he was so remarkable; and as it was difficult to procure books from England, young Franklin entered into a society with some others of his own age; among whom it was agreed, that they should bring such books as they had into one place, in order to form a common library. This resource, however, was found defective, that the society, at Franklin's persuasion, resolved to contribute a small sum monthly towards the purchase of books for their use from London. Thus their stock began to increase rapidly; and the inhabitants of Philadelphia, being desirous of having a share in their literary knowledge, proposed that the books should be lent out on paying a small sum for the indulgence. Thus in a few years the society became rich, and possessed more books than were perhaps to be found in all the other colonies; the collection was advanced into a public library; and the other colonies, sensible of the advantages resulting from thence, began to form similar plans; whence originated the libraries at Boston, New York, Charlestown, &c. that of Philadelphia being now inferior to none in Europe.

Mr Franklin, notwithstanding all the advantages he could derive from his situation in Philadelphia, was not yet satisfied. He came over to England therefore in the year 1724 or 1725; and worked as a journeyman printer with one Mr Watts. By him he was greatly esteemed; and treated with such kindness, that it was always remembered with gratitude by our philosopher. Mr Watts often predicted that his young American compositior would one day make a considerable figure in the world; and he lived to see his prediction fulfilled with regard to his philosophical discoveries, though not as to the part he acted in political matters.

Having laid some time in London, Mr Franklin returned to Philadelphia, where he persuaded the printer with whom he formerly resided to set up a newspaper; which was attended with such benefit, that his master admitted him as a partner in the business, and gave him his daughter in marriage. Having thus established himself as a printer, and acquired some fortune, Mr Franklin was left at liberty to follow the natural bent of his genius. Being much addicted to the study of natural philosophy, and the discovery of the Leyden experiment in electricity having rendered that science an object of general curiosity, Mr Franklin applied himself to it, and soon began to distinguish himself eminently in that way. He is particularly remarkable for being the first who thought of securing buildings from lightning; and he is generally thought to have been the inventor of the electrical kite, though some ascribe this invention to another. His theory of positive and negative electricity has also received the sanction of public approbation; though, when rigorously investigated, it does not seem capable of supporting itself*. His theories were at first opposed by the members of the Royal Society in London; but in 1755, when he returned to that city, they voted him the gold medal which is annually given to the person who presents a memoir on the most curious and interesting subject. He was likewise admitted a member of

*See Electricity, Sects. v. and vi. Franklin, the Society, and had the degree of doctor of laws conferred upon him by one of the universities; but at this time, by reason of the war which broke out between Britain and France, he returned to America, and began to take a share in the public affairs of that country.

Having planned the different posts through the continent of America, he was made postmaster-general for that country; but as in the subsequent disputes he took always the popular side, he was afterwards removed from that employment. In the year 1767, he was examined before the house of commons concerning the stamp-act. In 1773, having been appointed agent for the province of Pennsylvania, he came over to England at the time when the disputes between Great Britain and America were on the point of coming to extremities; when he attracted the public attention by a letter on the duel betwixt Mr Whatley and Mr Temple concerning the publication of governor Hutchinson's letters. On the 29th January next year, he was examined before the privy-council on a petition he had presented long before as agent for Massachusetts Bay against Mr Hutchinson; but this petition being disagreeable to ministry, was precipitately rejected, and Dr Franklin was soon after removed from his office of postmaster-general for America. He was now looked upon by government with such a jealous eye, that some thoughts were entertained of having him arrested as a fomenter of rebellion. The Doctor, however, being on his guard, departed for America in the beginning of the year 1775 with such privacy, that he had left England before it was suspected that he entertained any design of quitting it. Being named one of the delegates to the continental congress, he had a principal share in bringing about the revolution and declaration of independence on the part of the colonies. In 1776 he was deputies by congress to Canada, to negotiate with the people in that country, and to persuade them to throw off the British yoke; but the Canadians had been so much disgusted with the hot-headed zeal of the New Englanders, who had burnt some of their chapels, that they refused to listen to the proposals, though enforced by all the arguments Dr Franklin could make use of. On his return to Philadelphia, congress, sensible how much he was esteemed in France, sent him thither to put a finishing hand to the private negotiations of Mr Silas Deane; and this important commission was readily accepted by the Doctor, though then in the 71st year of his age. The event is well known; a treaty of alliance and commerce was signed between France and America; and M. le Roi affirms, that the Doctor had a great share in the transaction, by strongly advising M. Maurepas not to lose a single moment, if he wished to secure the friendship of America, and to detach it from the mother-country. He likewise informs us, that no man could be more rejoiced than Dr Franklin was on the day that the British ambassador, Lord Stormont, quitted Paris on account of the rupture betwixt the two nations. In 1777 he was regularly appointed plenipotentiary from Congress to the French court; but obtained leave of dismission in 1780. Having at last seen the full accomplishment of his wishes by the conclusion of the peace in 1783, which gave independence to America, he became desirous of revisiting his native country. He therefore requested to be recalled; and, after repeated solicitations, Mr Jefferson was appointed in his room. On the arrival of his successor, he repaired to Havre de Grace, and crossing the Channel, landed at Newport in the Isle of Wight; and, after a favourable passage, arrived safe at Philadelphia in the month of September 1785. He was received amidst the acclamations of a vast multitude who flocked from all parts to see him, and who conducted him in triumph to his own house. In a few days he was visited by the members of the congress and the principal inhabitants of Philadelphia. He was afterwards twice chosen president of the assembly of Philadelphia; but his increasing infirmities obliged him to ask permission to retire, and to spend the remainder of his life in tranquillity; which was granted.

During the greatest part of his lifetime the Doctor had been very healthy. In the year 1735, indeed, he was attacked by a pleurisy, which ended in a suppuration of the left lobe of the lungs, so that he was almost suffocated by the quantity of matter thrown up. But from this, as well as from another attack of the same kind afterwards, he recovered so completely, that his breathing was not affected afterwards in the least. As he advanced in years, however, he became subject to fits of the gout, to which in the year 1782 a nephritic colic was superadded. From this time he became subject to the stone as well as the gout, and for the last twelve months of his life these complaints almost entirely confined him to his bed. Notwithstanding his distrest situation, however, neither his mental abilities nor his natural cheerfulness ever forsook him. His memory was very tenacious to the very last; and he seemed to be an exception to the general rule, that at a certain period of life the organs which are subservient to memory become callous; a remarkable instance of which is, that he learned to speak French after he had attained the age of 70. About 16 days before his death, he was seized with a feverish disorder; which, about the third or fourth day, was attended with a pain in the left breast. This became at last very acute, and was accompanied with a cough and laborious breathing. Thus he continued for five days, when the painful symptoms ceased at once, and his family began to flatter themselves with hopes of his recovery. But a new indisposition had now taken place in the lungs; which suddenly breaking as the others had done, he was unable to expectorate the matter fully. Hence an oppression of the organs of respiration and a lethargic disposition came on; which gradually increasing, he expired on the 17th of April 1790, about 11 at night.—He left one son, governor William Franklin, a zealous loyalist, who now resides at London; and a daughter, married to Mr William Bache merchant in Philadelphia. This lady was his greatest favourite, and waited upon him during his last illness. Three days before he died, he begged that his bed might be made, that he might die in a decent manner; to which Mrs Bache answered, that she hoped he would recover and live many years longer; but he replied, "I hope not."

With regard to the character of Dr Franklin, he was said to be sententious but not fluent in society; rather inclined to listen than to talk; an informing rather than a pleasing companion; very impatient, however, of interruption; so that he would frequently mention the custom of the Indians, who keep silence for some time before they answer a question which they have heard with attention. With regard to religion, he was a firm believer in the Scriptures; and his sentiments on death may be gathered from a letter written about 35 years ago to Miss Hubbard on the death of her father-in-law Mr. John Franklin. "We are spirits (says he): That bodies should be lent us while they can afford us pleasure, assist us in acquiring knowledge, or doing good to our fellow creatures, is a kind and benevolent act of God. When they become unfit for these purposes, and afford us pain instead of pleasure; instead of an aid they become an incumbrance, and answer none of the intentions for which they were given: it is then equally kind and benevolent, that a way is provided by which we may get rid of them. Death is that way.—Our friend and we are invited abroad on a party of pleasure that is to last for ever. His carriage was first ready, and he is gone before us; we could not all conveniently start together; and why should you and I be grieved at this, since we are soon to follow, and know where to find him?" The Doctor was author of many tracts on electricity, and other branches of natural philosophy, as well as on politics and miscellaneous subjects.