The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin is a book by Benjamin Franklin, first published in 1791. Written in stages between 1771 and 1790, Franklin’s unfinished memoirs recount his rise from a Boston printer’s apprentice to a leading scientist, inventor, diplomat and statesman. The narrative is plainspoken and pragmatic: it mixes lively personal anecdote with practical reflections on thrift, industry, and self-improvement, offering a vivid portrait of 18th-century colonial life and the early American public sphere. Franklin intended the work as both a record for his family and a model of moral and civic behaviour for readers. Its blend of personal story, practical maxims, and civic reflection helped shape the American image of self-made success and made the book an early exemplar of the modern autobiography and the popular “how-to” life narrative. The Autobiography’s irregular publication history and unfinished ending have not diminished its influence: it remains a cornerstone for readers interested in American history, Enlightenment thought, and practical wisdom.