In this biographical sketch, the author -- a noted historian of the American Revolution -- expresses his admiration for this remarkable figure. A generation older than other leading Founding Fathers, Franklin had already earned enough to retire from business and devote himself to public service while Washington was a teenager and Jefferson a child. The international renown he achieved through his scientific experiments was of inestimable value when he went to France during the Revolution to plead America’s case in its quest for independence, but even more valuable in Morgan’s estimation was his integrity and winning personality.
Morgan does not gloss over Franklin’s blunders, the chief of which his feud with Thomas Penn, proprietor of the Pennsylvania colony. This son of William, colony founder, displayed all the faults of an absentee landlord, which seems to have violated Franklin’s sense of right and wrong to such an extent that he departed from the pragmatism and far-sightedness that normally governed his conduct. Yet the moribund government that resulted from Penn’s neglect was the environment in which Franklin practiced his growing skill at organizing private schemes for the public good such as a fire department and a library. It was characteristic of the man, and a key to his success, that he never appeared to lead, but let others take the initiative and even the credit in projects he organized. Those in the know saw through this, of course, and esteemed him the more for it. Ironically, this led the British to suspect that Franklin, in the long years he spent in London as agent of the colonies, was the ringleader of the growing rebellion. They were wrong, but not by much.
Franklin’s own vision of America as a partner in a transatlantic empire, in time, the dominant partner, was frustrated in his lifetime, primarily because a succession of British governments were led by men who lacked the imagination to share it (others, such as William Pitt, did grasp it, but were no longer in power). Franklin’s hope was eventually realized nevertheless in the special relationship between the two English-speaking powers through most of the 20th century.
Few people born three centuries ago are as accessible as he. Morgan based his research primarily on Franklin's own writings, which fill 46 volumes in the critical edition. At the same time, he stresses that there is always something Franklin seems to be withholding.
Morgan tells the tale well and has succeeded in his goal of presenting Franklin as an appealing personality. Some other figures, such as John Adams, who is seen through the prism of his own overweening vanity and faulted for claiming to one and all he could have done a better job negotiating with both the French and English, come off more poorly. I would have liked more of an exploration of the origins of Franklin's insatiably curious mind and astounding physical energy, but Morgan avoids the pitfalls of psycho-biography.
This is not a detailed biography, but a good first introduction to this giant of a man whose vitality, optimism and gregarious nature were emblematic of the new nation taking shape on the Western shore of the Atlantic. Highly recommended.
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This is a short but incisive biography of one of the leaders of both Revolutionary America and the Enlightenment. Edmund Morgan highlights his contradictions that were evident in his difficult loyalty to revolutionary America, his scientific ventures, and his civic duties. This is a good place to start learning about the mind and life of one of America's first geniuses. ( )

I picked this book up in the store at the National Archies, which has a great selection of history books and DVD's. I've been wanting to read more Revolution Era history, so this seemed appropriate. Unfortunately, I found this to be very hard to read and difficult to put into perspective. It jumps right into the middle of Franklin's life, completely ignoring his childhood and family. It also focuses a bit too much on the people Franklin interacts with, rather than his actions. I did learn quite a bit about Franklin, the times and the other actors of the pre-Revolutionary War period, it did a good job at that. Unfortunately, because of the way it was written, I just found it very difficult to read more than a few pages at a sitting, which made it even more disjointed. I did get a good perspective of his attitudes and his approach to science and politics and his accomplishments. ( )

My first take after beginning this book was the title is misleading. Not because it isn't about Benjamin Franklin, but that it is not simply a biography. But upon further reflection, the title is exactly what the book is about: who was Benjamin Franklin.

From a well respected biographer-historian, Edmund S. Morgan boils down the essence of the prolific Founding Father. More like a philosophical work, Mr. Morgan skips an introductory chapter and begins exploring Franklin's scientific work.

"What was he thinking?" is the currency this book trades on and unfortunately, Benjamin Franklin was efficient at compartmentalizing his personal and public lives. Morgan is honest in prefacing aspects of the statesman's that shall remain mysteries.

Written in a manner allowing any reader to understand, only those familiar with Franklin's life will appreciate the scrutiny given one of America's finest scientist, humorist, printer, and politician. ( )

Enjoyed this as I continue to read more about this country's founding fathers. I find Mr. Franklin almost as interesting as Thomas Jefferson. Now, while I appreciated an easy to read biography, I found the way the author clustered certain forward and backward looking comments from a point of time in Franklin's life took a bit of getting used to. Stylistically not my preference, but I got used to it. Worth a look as a first read in to Franklin's life. ( )