The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

What it is

This is Benjamin Franklin's own account of his life, written in four parts between 1771 and 1790, though he called it his Memoirs. It remained unfinished at his death and covers events only up to 1758; it was published after his death.

Why it matters

The Autobiography became one of the most influential personal narratives ever written, presenting Franklin's journey from a runaway printer's apprentice in Boston to a successful tradesman and public figure in Philadelphia. It helped establish the American ideal of the self-made man, including Franklin's own plan for self-improvement and moral discipline.

Look closer

• Why might Franklin have chosen to address part of his memoir directly to his son?
• What does Franklin choose to call his own mistakes, and what might that reveal about how he wanted to be remembered?
• What parts of his later, famous life are left out of this unfinished account?