Ben Franklin (71-Afterword)

Chapter 71 (Negotiating with Coalition)

 A 3rd party added to either side of the table sometimes provides the necessary change in dynamics.
 “that all estates, real and personal, were to be taxed, those of the Penn family not excepted” Morris wanted to
change the word “not” to “only”.
 By refusing to help defend the province they forfeit their right to it. Scared the Penn family and they donated
5,000 pounds of their own money
 Ben passed a bill for establishing and training a voluntary militia
~Poor Richard once said, “Cunning Proceeds from want of capacity” ~

Chapter 72 (Benjamin Franklin Soldiers)

 Ben published a pamphlet promoting the militia

 Morris asked Ben to take charge of the northwestern frontier which was already overrun by the enemy (Ben
soon found himself in charge of 560 men)
 Ben son William served as his chief assistant
 Bethlehem= chief Moravian settlement
 Rained and they couldn’t keep their guns dry

Chapter 73 (Managing Morale)

 To avoid detection the native Americans dug holes in the ground about 3 feet in diameter & about 4 ft deep.
With their hatchets they would cut charcoal from the sides of burnt logs in the woods. Using these coals they
made small, virtually smoke free fires at the bottom of the holes and then would drop their legs down into them
to keep their feet and legs warm.
~Poor Richard once said, “You may give a man an office, but you cannot give him discretion.” ~

Chapter 74 (Reward or Punish?)

 To get the solders to attend prayer meetings the rum was served by the pastor right after.
~Poor Richard once said, “Hope of gain lessens pain.”~

Chapter 75 (A Hero’s Return)

 Franklins goal of building 3 forts was completed and a experienced officer from New England, Colonel William
Clapham agreed to accept the command in Bens absence so he went back to Philadelphia
 Morvavians
-sermons were preached to strictly segregated audiences
-when 2 or 3 young women were judged to be equally suitable for a young man, a lot was cast to decide the
match.
  Ben was elected commander-in-chief
-that role was short because their commissions were overthrown when Parliament repealed their militia law in
England
~Poor Richard once said, “a good example is the best sermon.”~

Chapter 76 (Enemies Accumulate)

 Bens never thought is good policy to show off ones importance to others.
 Bens solders escorted him all the way out of town in their uniforms with their swords drawn
-this infuriated the Penn family because they had never been shown this treatment
 Governor Morris and Ben still friends
 Morris wanted Ben to become a general but Ben suspected it was because he had political motives.
 Morris was replaced by Captain Denny

Chapter 77 (My Life as a Scientist)

 Ben was awarded the Copley Medal (the gold medal of Sir Godfrey Copley)
 Royal Society= national academy of science among the British
 Count de Buffon France= one of the greatest scientist of the day
 By the rules of science if it could not be replicated it could not be seriously defended
 Professor Nollet (Frances greatest electrical scientist) publically criticized Bens papers. Ben decided to let his
papers defend themselves and not respond.
 Bens friend Jean-Baptiste Le Roy of the Royal Academy of sciences in France took it upon himself to refute
Nollets arguments
~Poor Richard once said, “half the truth if often a great lie.”~

Chapter 78 (Holding Fast to Principle)

 you can be taken advantage of when flattered as easily as when you are angered.
 Captain Denny brought the Copley medal with him when he sailed over from England and tried to get Ben to
help him settle the Penn family land tax dispute.
~Poor Richard once said, “Love your enemies, for they tell you your faults.”~

Chapter 79 (The Impact of Indecisive Leadership)

 Lord Loudoun= indecisive

 Ships delayed because the Lords letters were not ready (suppose to sail in April didn’t sail until June)
 Loudoun was like “St. George on the signs: always on horseback but never really riding anywhere!”.

Chapter 80 (More on Poor Leadership)

  Loudoun left the colonies defenseless and lost Fort William Henry while he drilled his troops in the safety of
Halifax.
 Shirley said, “I find the lowest seat the easiest to fill”
 Loudoun said he decided not to mix his accounts with his predecessors and Ben should show his records to the
treasury when he arrived in London and he would be paid immediately
 Loudoun accused Ben of filling his own pockets during the war and refuses to pay back the small sum owed to
Ben.

Chapter 81 (The Slowest Ship)

 To much weight had been loaded at the front of the ship causing the ship to drag that’s why it was going slow
 Captain lugwidge and captain kennedy made a bet. Captain kennedy didn’t think the ship could sail at 13 knots
but it could.
 Ben wants people to look into what makes a good fast boat
~Poor Richard once said, “he that resolves to mend hereafter, resolves not to mend now.”~

Chapter 82 (No Substitute for Integrity)

 If they sail through the night they will hit land by morning
 The watchman at the front of the boat did not say anything about the lighthouse right in front of them (most
likely because he was asleep)
 Captain kennedy jumped up to help and saved the ship from wreaking
~Poor Richard once said, “Reader, I wish thee health, wealth, and happiness, and may kind heaven thy year’s
industry bless.”~

Afterword (The Rest of the Story)

 Ben won a legal battle with the Penn family over the taxation of their estate holdings
 This book ends when Ben is 51 yrs old
 The other book ends when Ben is 57 yrs old
 Time line of the remaining events in Bens life
-look in book pg. 256.