Did Ben Franklin own slaves?
VERDICT
CONFIDENCE
100%
Direct Answer
Benjamin Franklin owned slaves from around 1735 until 1781, including individuals like George acquired in 1765 and others such as Peter and John King. Historical records, tax documents, and his own letters confirm he held multiple enslaved people in Philadelphia and London households. He later became an abolitionist but personally benefited from slavery for decades.
What the Evidence Shows
Multiple scholarly sources, including tax records from 1769 and 1774 listing one enslaved person and accounts of others like Peter (purchased by 1750) and John King (who ran away), verify Franklin's slave ownership. He accepted slaves as debt payments, sold them occasionally, and ran ads for runaways in his newspaper. While he critiqued slavery economically in 1751 and freed slaves in his will, his direct ownership until at least 1781 supports the claim without significant contradiction.
Why People Get This Wrong
Some focus only on Franklin's late-life abolitionism, like petitioning Congress against slavery in 1790, leading to a misconception that he never owned slaves. This overlooks decades of records showing his household relied on enslaved labor, which enabled his scientific and business pursuits.
Did Benjamin Franklin become an abolitionist?
Franklin shifted views later in life, publishing anti-slavery works anonymously in the 1730s and critiquing slavery economically in 1751. By 1790, he led the Pennsylvania Abolition Society and petitioned Congress to end slavery, though he owned slaves until 1781 and freed them in his will.
How many slaves did Ben Franklin own?
Records confirm at least several: George (1765-1781), Peter and Jemima (by 1750), John King (ran away 1758), Bob (around 1760), and a possible Jack. Tax records note one in 1769 and 1774, but ledgers and letters indicate more over decades.
What happened to Franklin's slaves after his death?
Franklin's 1790 will manumitted his enslaved people, including Bob held by his family. John King, who escaped in 1758, was not pursued after Franklin found him learning skills in Suffolk, effectively allowing his freedom earlier.
Sources & Methodology
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