{"id":35214,"date":"2024-04-19T16:19:29","date_gmt":"2024-04-19T14:19:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.historyextra.com\/?p=265620"},"modified":"2024-04-20T07:11:40","modified_gmt":"2024-04-20T05:11:40","slug":"temple-franklin-the-real-story-of-benjamin-franklins-grandson","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistory\/rss_feed\/temple-franklin-the-real-story-of-benjamin-franklins-grandson\/","title":{"rendered":"Temple Franklin: the real story of Benjamin Franklin\u2019s grandson"},"content":{"rendered":"

Benjamin Franklin\u2019s grandson, Temple Franklin, plays a key role in the historical drama Franklinfrom Apple TV+. His place in history is understandably overshadowed by that of his grandfather \u2013 but his role in building a relationship with the French is vital to American history\u2026 <\/p>

By James Osborne\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Friday, 19 April 2024 at 14:19 PM<\/p>

\n\n

William Temple Franklin may not be a household name, but he played a significant role in American history, specifically by contributing to the early United States of America\u2019s close relationship with France under the lead of his grandfather, the world-famous Benjamin Franklin.<\/p>\n

As a politician, polymath, philosopher, diplomat and scientist \u2013 whose inventions include bifocal eyeglasses and the lightning rod \u2013 Benjamin Franklin is regarded as one of the chief intellectual driving forces behind the American Enlightenment and the American Revolution<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Benjamin Franklin served as the ambassador to France for approximately six years across the late 1770s and 1780s, intent on building a geopolitical alliance for his new country, joined by William Temple Franklin as his secretary and confidant.<\/p>\n

These exploits are the centre of the new Apple TV+ historical drama series Franklin<\/em>, bringing the story and role of Temple Franklin (as he is called in the drama) into new focus. But who was the real Temple Franklin, what was his relationship with his grandfather, and what is his significance to history?<\/p>\n

\"Noah\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Noah Jupe as William Temple Franklin in the Apple TV+ series \u2018Franklin\u2019. (Photo by Apple TV+)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Who was William Temple Franklin and how was he related to Benjamin Franklin?<\/h2>\n

Born in London on 22 February 1760 or 1762, William Temple Franklin was the grandson of US founding father Benjamin Franklin.<\/p>\n

Temple was the illegitimate son of William Franklin, the Royal Governor of New Jersey during the American Revolution, who was himself the illegitimate (but acknowledged) son of Benjamin Franklin.<\/p>\n

This intriguing dynamic placed Temple at the centre of a divided and complex family \u2013 during the American Revolution, his father remained loyal to the British Crown, while his grandfather championed the cause of American independence.<\/p>\n

What was Temple Franklin\u2019s role in the Franco-American alliance?<\/h2>\n

Despite the family rift, Temple\u2019s life became intertwined with his grandfather\u2019s momentous achievements as Benjamin Franklin became the ambassador to France. In 1776, at the age of 16, Temple joined his grandfather in Paris, just as the American colonies were declaring independence.<\/p>\n