Sorting books for repair the other day I came across an interesting set of volumes. They are entitled “British Public Characters”. There are 8 volumes and cover the years 1798–1806. Each volume has an index and some have a section for small pen portraits. The 1798 portraits include Nelson and Dr Priestley. The writer and politician Benjamin Disraeli is also in this volume. His name is actually spelt D’Israeli. Other volumes include biographies of Sir Robert Peel, Mr Wilberforce, Edmund Cartwright, Lord Granville, Duke of Marlborough, Richard Sheridan, William Cowper, Dr Jenner, Rowland Hill and William Franklin. Surprisingly there are some 20 entries for women!

The article on William Franklin is in the volume for 1801-02. He is described as” William Franklin Esq. Late Governor of New Jersey.” William was the son of Benjamin Franklin and as a boy witnessed his father’s early experiments with flying kites in thunderstorms. In fact William claims to have constructed the kites himself! William became a soldier fighting against the French in North America and Canada. With his father, William also visited Great Britain. He was recommended for a vacant American governorship by Lord Halifax and, whilst still in England, was appointed to the government of New Jersey in North America. Because of his strong attachment to Great Britain the revolution proved a painful time for him. “He refused to listen to any solicitations; importunity and threats were equally ineffectual; and he remained faithful while almost every one around him swerved”. William steadfastly refused to support the revolution and in the end he was taken from the government house and imprisoned in a jail. Whilst he was in prison his wife, of West Indian descent, died. When he was released William sailed to England from New York where he “obtained an annual income under the title of indemnification but this is said to be disproportionate either to his merits his losses or his sufferings”. Benjamin Franklin supported the revolution and was bitterly disappointed with his son. However “he is said to have offered to make over all his possessions to him [William] provided he [William] would but declare for the American cause”. William refused and remained in England where he remarried and eventually died in 1813

Janet C Senior, Assistant Librarian