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The family of Benjamin Franklin was divided during the American Revolution. After the war, father and son never spoke to each other again 

   The Civil War is often referred to as the war that pitted brothers against brothers. Contrary to popular belief, the Civil War was not the only conflict in which this unfortunate phenomenon of dividing families occurred. It has happened in almost every war. Even the most famous families, or infamous families, have been divided by conflict.   

     American statesman Benjamin Franklin had done much to help his eldest son, William. He had even used his influence to help William get appointed Governor of New Jersey. This was a decision the elder Franklin would later regret.

      All was well in the Franklin home. But Benjamin began to notice William was adopting the aristocratic ways of British royalty. Benjamin wrote his autobiography in hopes that William would be influenced by his unpretentious life.

     When the Americans adopted the Declaration of Independence in 1776, war was declared. Benjamin had worked on the committee with Thomas Jefferson to adopt the Declaration and his loyalties lay with the Americans. William, being a governor appointed by the crown, remained loyal to the British. Father and son were now on opposing sides in a conflict that would shatter family relations forever.

    By some accounts, William directed attacks against American targets including the burning of a library his father had built. His public criticism of his father was truly heart breaking to the elder Franklin. In the beginning, American patriots turned a deaf ear to William’s condemnation of the American cause because of their respect and admiration for his father. But, as time went by and tensions escalated it became impossible to ignore. By a resolution of congress, he was finally arrested and sent to Connecticut where he was imprisoned.

      Benjamin Franklin could have come to the aid of his son and have him released but he chose not to due to his lack of trust for William. Prison was not favorable to William. During his incarceration he lost all of his teeth. He was released during the war and spent the remainder of the war in England where he continued his vehement attacks of the Americans and his father.

     When the war ended he and his father never spoke again and William remained in England for the rest of his life. Benjamin died on April 17, 1790 at the age of 84. In his Will he disinherited William reasoning, “If William’s England had won the war I would have no estate to leave anyone.”

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    He has written for more than 30 newspapers and magazines including the Civil War Times Illustrated, The Civil War Courier, the Associated Press and the Knoxville Journal.

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