Benjamin Franklin Autobiography: 7 Reasons He Wrote His Story

Benjamin Franklin's autobiography is one of the most widely read autobiographies in the world. There is no question that his work is a lesson in writing an autobiography.

Many have read Benjamin Franklin's autobiography for its historical contribution and for its literary merit. In fact, multitudes have tried to mimic his attempts to attain to certain values and attributes.

Even in his greatness, Benjamin Franklin remained down to earth and approachable. Perhaps Benjamin Franklin's simple approach to life is what makes his autobiography so readable and appreciated by millions of readers.

It seems that many celebrity autobiographies exist only to enlarge the egos of the celebrities writing them. Not so with Benjamin Franklin. He outlines his reasons for writing in a letter to his son, which he includes as an introduction to his autobiography.

He provided the following motives for jotting down his life's history:

1. He's always derived "Pleasure in obtaining any little Anecdote or my Ancestors."

Benjamin Franklin often traveled for the sole purpose of collecting these little stories.

2. He "imagin[es] it may be equally agreable [sic] to you to know the Circumstances of my Life."

Because he has found satisfaction in the stories of others, Franklin hopes that others will find some happiness in reading his work.

3. "Having emerg'd from the Poverty and Obscurity in which I was born & bred, to a State of Affluence & some Degree of Reputation in the World, and having gone so far thro' Life with a considerable Share of Felicity, the conducing Means I made use of, which, with the Blessing of God, so well succeeded, my Posterity may like to know, as they may find some of them suitable to their own Situations, & therefore fit to be imitated."

Franklin rose in success. He wishes to share how he overcame his circumstances.

4. "[T]he next Thing most like living one's Life over again, seems to be a Recollection of that Life;"

Next to reliving his life, recollecting his life is the next best thing. Do you agree?

5. He desires "to make that Recollection as durable as possible, the putting it down in Writing."

We all want to be remembered. Benjamin Franklin chose to make his autobiography more enduring by writing it down.

6. "I shall indulge the Inclination so natural in old Men, to be talking of themselves and their own past Actions, and I shall indulge it... perhaps I shall a good deal gratify my own Vanity."

My father-in-law likes to say, "The older I get the better I was!" This statement highlights our own vanity. But if we don't get our life on paper, it won't persist.

7. Finally, "I speak of thanking God, I desire with all Humility to acknowledge, that I owe the mention'd Happiness of my past Life to his kind Providence, which led me to the Means I us'd & gave them Success."

He acknowledges God in his life. He attributes his success and happiness to God's favor.

Use Benjamin Franklin's autobiography as a template for your own writing. Find your reasons for writing. It will make the whole process a lot easier.

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Review our discussion on Starting an Autobiography . Robert Brady's Autobiography Workshop is a superb tool for writing an autobiography .
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