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{{WP-REAL}} | {{Update|''[[Echoes of History]]''}} | ||
{{ | {{Quote|As I have stated previously, I believe we need a national union, granted by an act of Parliament but bringing greater independence to our colonies. The French are an immediate threat and we are ill-prepared to face them. To put it bluntly, the colonies must join, or die.|Benjamin Franklin at the Albany Congress, 1754.|Assassin's Creed: Rogue|We the People}} | ||
{{Quote|As I have stated previously, I believe we need a national union, granted by an act of Parliament but bringing greater independence to our colonies. The French are an immediate threat and we are ill-prepared to face them. To put it bluntly, the colonies must join, or die.|Benjamin Franklin at the Albany Congress, 1754.|Assassin's Creed: Rogue}} | |||
{{Character Infobox | {{Character Infobox | ||
|image = AC3 Benjamin Franklin render.png | |image = AC3 Benjamin Franklin render.png | ||
|birth = 17 January 1706<br | |birth = 17 January 1706<br>[[Boston]], [[Massachusetts|Massachusetts Bay]], [[United States|British America]] | ||
|death = 17 April 1790 | |death = 17 April 1790 {{c|aged 84}}<br>[[Philadelphia, United States|Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]], United States | ||
|species = [[Human]] | |species = [[Human]] | ||
|database = [[Database: Benjamin Franklin (Assassin's Creed III)|Benjamin Franklin (Assassin's Creed III)]]<br />[[Database: Benjamin Franklin (Rogue)|Benjamin Franklin (Rogue)]] | |database = [[Database: Benjamin Franklin (Assassin's Creed III)|Benjamin Franklin (Assassin's Creed III)]]<br />[[Database: Benjamin Franklin (Rogue)|Benjamin Franklin (Rogue)]] | ||
|affiliates = [[Patriots]]<br | |affiliates = [[Patriots]]<br>[[Founding Fathers]]<br>[[Freemasons]] | ||
}} | |||
'''Benjamin "Ben" Franklin''' (1706 – 1790) was one of the [[Founding Fathers]] of the [[United States]] | '''Benjamin "Ben" Franklin''' (1706 – 1790) was one of the [[Founding Fathers]] of the [[United States]]. A noted polymath, he was a leading author, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, civic activist, and diplomat. As a [[Patriots|Patriot]], he played a pivotal role in the [[American Revolution]] which established the [[United States|United States of America]] and acted as a crucial diplomat for the fledgling nation. | ||
Franklin | Franklin was acquainted with [[Assassins]] and [[Templars]] alike in the colonies, including the [[American Rite of the Templar Order|Colonial Templars]]' [[Grand Master of the Templar Order|Grand Master]] [[Haytham Kenway]], the [[American Brotherhood of Assassins|Colonial Assassin]] [[Hope Jensen]], and the Assassin defector [[Shay Cormac]]. On occasions, he assisted the Assassins and Templars but did not always realize the greater powers and conspiracies involved with his friendships. | ||
==Biography== | ==Biography== | ||
===Early life=== | ===Early life=== | ||
Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston in 1706, the tenth son of | Benjamin Franklin was born in [[Boston]] in 1706, the tenth son of the soap-maker<ref name="AC3 - ADB">''[[Assassin's Creed III]]'' – [[Database: Benjamin Franklin (Assassin's Creed III)|Database: Benjamin Franklin]]</ref> {{Wiki|Josiah Franklin}} and his wife {{Wiki|Abiah Folger}}.<ref name="Wiki">{{WP|Benjamin Franklin}}</ref> He began working as an apprentice [[printer]] for his older brother<ref name="AC3 - ADB"/> [[James Franklin|James]] in 1718.<ref name="Echoes">''[[Echoes of History]]: Behind the Legends'' – Episode 5: Benjamin Franklin</ref> Their relationship was rocky, particularly after Franklin's brother found out that he had been writing for the paper under the pseudonym of "{{Wiki|Silence Dogood|Mrs. Silence Dogood}}" and had amassed a large following due to its popularity.<ref name="AC3 - ADB"/><ref name="Echoes"/> | ||
Franklin ran away in 1723 and headed for [[Philadelphia]], which became his primary residence for the rest of his life. In 1725, he visited the Royal Society of London in order to conduct scientific experiments, and upon his return to the | Franklin ran away in 1723 and headed for [[Philadelphia, United States|Philadelphia]], which became his primary residence for the rest of his life. In 1725, he visited the Royal Society of London in order to conduct scientific experiments, and upon his return to the Thirteen Colonies, established the {{Wiki|Junto (club)|Junto}}, a club for discussion of current issues and one of the colonies' first subscription libraries.<ref name="ACRG - ADB">''[[Assassin's Creed: Rogue]]'' – [[Database: Benjamin Franklin (Rogue)|Database: Benjamin Franklin]]</ref> | ||
Franklin also continued his career in printing and writing, eventually becoming the publisher of ''{{Wiki|The Pennsylvania Gazette}}''. His yearly almanac, ''{{Wiki|Poor Richard's Almanack}}'', became a bestselling success.<ref name="AC3 - ADB">''[[Assassin's Creed III]]'' – [[Database: Benjamin Franklin (Assassin's Creed III)|Database: Benjamin Franklin]]</ref> Over a decade later, he began experimenting with electricity, leading to his invention of devices such as the capacitor and [[Leyden jar]].<ref name="ACRG - ADB" /> | |||
===French and Indian War=== | ===French and Indian War=== | ||
{{Quote|I've begun to wonder if Parliament best serves our interests. The Colonies might be better off independent and autonomous. Most of my peers however, haven't taken kindly to the suggestion.| | {{Quote|I've begun to wonder if Parliament best serves our interests. The Colonies might be better off independent and autonomous. Most of my peers however, haven't taken kindly to the suggestion.|Franklin speaking with Haytham Kenway, 1754.|Assassin's Creed III|Floating conversations}} | ||
In 1754, Franklin attended the [[Albany Congress]] to discuss ending tensions with the [[Iroquois]] and defending the colonies against the [[France|French]]. He proposed a unified government to better organize the colonies | [[File:We The People 2.png|thumb|250px|left|Franklin speaking at the Albany Congress]] | ||
In July 1754, Franklin attended the [[Albany Congress]] to discuss ending tensions with the [[Iroquois]] and defending the colonies against the [[France|French]]. He proposed a unified government to better organize the colonies and drew a political cartoon, "{{Wiki|Join, or Die}}", depicting the colonies as a [[snake]] cut into eight parts.<ref name="We the People">''[[Assassin's Creed: Rogue]]'' – [[We the People]]</ref> The delegates accepted the proposal at the conference, but the colonies' legislatures and the British Board of Trade rejected the idea.<ref name="AC3">''[[Assassin's Creed III]]''</ref> | |||
Later, Franklin was tasked by the [[Templars|Templar]] [[William Johnson]] to study the [[Precursor box]] and the [[Voynich manuscript]] while remaining unaware of Johnson's actual allegiance. However, the [[Assassins|Assassin]] [[Shay Cormac]] intervened, taking possession of the box and the manuscript.<ref name="We the People" /> He and fellow Assassin [[Hope Jensen]] then traveled to [[Sleepy Hollow]], where they manipulated Franklin into assisting the Assassins in their search for the whereabouts of a [[Piece of Eden]].<ref name="Fiat Lux">''[[Assassin's Creed: Rogue]]'' – [[Fiat Lux]]</ref> | |||
Franklin, believing the two Assassins were Johnson's associates, agreed and was successful in locating the artifact by electrifying the box with lightning, though he was briefly knocked unconscious in the process. Hope then helped him evade the local militia, who had been alerted to the fact that Shay had stolen confiscated lightning rods from them.<ref name="Fiat Lux" /> | |||
Franklin, | [[File:ACIII-WtB 2.png|thumb|250px|Franklin meeting Haytham Kenway and Charles Lee]] | ||
A few days later, Franklin arrived in Boston, where copies of his first almanac were stolen. The Templar [[Grand Master of the Templar Order|Grand Master]] [[Haytham Kenway]] noticed his distress and offered a lending hand. Franklin was surprised but pleased—being unaware of the stranger's background—as those living in the colonial city usually refused to be of any help, and correctly assumed that he must be new to Boston.<ref name="Welcome to Boston">''[[Assassin's Creed III]]'' – [[Welcome to Boston]]</ref> | |||
Franklin then requested that Haytham assist him with the task of finding his Almanac's other [[Almanac pages|missing pages]] if he had the time.<ref name="Welcome to Boston" /> The Grand Master eventually found all of the missing pages from a newly-printed first volume that collected some of Franklin's 1733 writings,<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed III]]'' – [[Database: Poor Richard's Almanack - 1733 (Vol.1)]]</ref> earning him Franklin's gratitude and [[Pound sterling|£]]500.<ref name="Floating Conversations">''[[Assassin's Creed III]]'' – [[Floating conversations]]: "Benjamin Franklin"</ref> | |||
Later on, Franklin met Haytham at the local general store and recited an excerpt of his treatise "{{Wiki|Advice to a Friend on Choosing a Mistress}}" on the benefits of having an older woman as a lover, much to Haytham's amusement. They met again another time, where Franklin explained the isolation he felt after the Albany Conference, as friends sought to distance themselves from his cartoon. He thanked Haytham for speaking with him and began expressing his belief that the Thirteen Colonies should be independent from the British Crown, which greatly intrigued Haytham.<ref name="Floating Conversations"/> | |||
[[File:ACRG Ben Franklin and Shay Cormac.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Franklin handing the prototype grenade launcher to Shay Cormac]] | |||
For the next few years, Franklin continued to work with Hope, and by 1756, had begun producing chemical weapons, grenades, [[poison]]ous gases, and more.<ref name="Keep Your Friends Close">''[[Assassin's Creed: Rogue]]'' – [[Keep Your Friends Close]]</ref> Shay, who by then had [[Initiation into the Templar Order|defected]] to the Templars,<ref name="Color of Right">''[[Assassin's Creed: Rogue]]'' – [[The Color of Right]]</ref> was informed by his superior [[George Monro]] that the Assassins planned to use these weapons against colonial [[Loyalists]] who supported the [[British Empire|British crown]] and the authorities of New York.<ref name="Keep Your Friends Close"/> | |||
Determined to avert this supposed terrorist plot, Shay infiltrated Franklin's residence, where the scientist was tricked into giving him the prototype [[grenade launcher]] he had been working on under the mistaken belief that Shay was still a friend of Hope. Afterwards, Shay used the grenade launcher to destroy the poison reserves.<ref name="Keep Your Friends Close"/> | |||
In 1757, Franklin went to [[London]] to represent [[Pennsylvania]] in an ongoing legal battle with {{Wiki|William Penn}}'s family. It was the first of several extended political trips to [[United Kingdom|Britain]], and he would act as the state representative for [[Massachusetts]], [[Georgia (state)|Georgia]] and [[New Jersey]] | In 1757, Franklin went to [[London]] to represent [[Pennsylvania]] in an ongoing legal battle with {{Wiki|William Penn}}'s family. It was the first of several extended political trips to [[United Kingdom|Britain]], and he would act as the state representative for [[Massachusetts]], [[Georgia (state)|Georgia]], and [[New Jersey]].<ref name="AC3 - ADB"/> | ||
===American Revolution=== | ===American Revolution=== | ||
{{Quote|We must indeed all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately.| | {{Quote|We must indeed all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately.|Franklin before signing the Declaration of Independence, 1776.|Assassin's Creed III|Public Execution}} | ||
[[File:ACIII-Publicexecution 13.png|thumb|250px|Franklin at the signing of the Declaration of Independence]] | [[File:ACIII-Publicexecution 13.png|thumb|250px|Franklin at the signing of the Declaration of Independence]] | ||
Franklin was a vocal opponent of British impositions on the colonies | Franklin was a vocal opponent of British impositions on the colonies, like the {{Wiki|Stamp Act 1765|Stamp Act}}, and though he fought for the rights of colonists as British citizens, he became convinced that independence was the only real solution.<ref name="AC3 - ADB"/> Unfortunately, Franklin's change of heart made him clash with his son {{Wiki|William Franklin|William}}, the Royal Governor of New Jersey. The younger Franklin remained a fervent Loyalist and the coming revolution would ensure that the father and son would never speak to one another again.<ref name="AC3 - ADB"/> | ||
Unfortunately, Franklin's change of heart made him clash with his son | |||
Franklin contributed to the writing of the [[Declaration of Independence]], which was primarily drafted by [[Thomas Jefferson]]. On 4 July 1776, Franklin was present alongside [[Samuel Adams]], [[John Hancock]], and Adams' ally Ratonhnhaké:ton, where he signed the Declaration right after Hancock.<ref name=" | In the meantime, Franklin contributed to the writing of the [[Declaration of Independence]], which was primarily drafted by [[Thomas Jefferson]]. On 4 July 1776, Franklin was present alongside [[Samuel Adams]], [[John Hancock]], and Adams' ally [[Ratonhnhaké:ton]], where he signed the Declaration right after Hancock.<ref name="Public Execution">''[[Assassin's Creed III]]'' – [[Public Execution]]</ref> | ||
===American Ambassador to France=== | ===American Ambassador to France=== | ||
For the rest of the [[American Revolutionary War]], Franklin lived in [[Paris]] as America's ambassador to France from 1776 to 1785.<ref name="AC3 - ADB" /> In 1776, he was hunted by local criminals, before being saved by Shay. Franklin informed Shay about his invitation to the [[Palace of Versailles]], to which Shay requested a favor | {{Dialogue|Shay|I need to meet... a business acquaintance. I heard he would be at the Château de Versailles, two days from now.|Franklin|And they don't just let anyone inside the royal palace. Very well. I'll see what can be arranged.|Shay requesting a favor from Franklin after saving him, 1776.|Assassin's Creed: Rogue|UHJvdGVjdGlvbg0K}} | ||
[[File:Protection 7.png|thumb|250px|left|Franklin agreeing to help Shay]] | |||
For the rest of the [[American Revolutionary War]], Franklin lived in [[Paris]] as America's ambassador to France from 1776 to 1785.<ref name="AC3 - ADB" /> In December 1776, he was hunted by local criminals,<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Rogue]]'' – [[RGVjb25zdHJ1Y3RlZA0K]]</ref> before being saved by Shay, who was also in the city at the time. Franklin informed Shay about his invitation to the [[Palace of Versailles]], to which Shay requested a favor: to gain entry to the palace for him as well. Franklin agreed, still not realizing Shay's allegiance after all these years,<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Rogue]]'' – [[UHJvdGVjdGlvbg0K]]</ref> and was able to get him inside.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Rogue]]'' – [[QXNzYXNzaW5hdGlvbg0K]]</ref> | |||
During his time in France, Franklin also interacted with a young [[Arno Dorian]] during his childhood, and became acquainted with the [[Parisian Brotherhood of Assassins|French Assassins]]' [[Mentor]] [[Honoré Gabriel Riqueti, comte de Mirabeau|Mirabeau]]. He eventually passed away on 17 April 1790 at the age of 84.<ref name="AE">''[[Assassin's Creed Unity: Abstergo Entertainment - Employee Handbook]]'' – [[Historic Personage Sheets]]: "Benjamin Franklin"</ref> | |||
==Alternate timeline== | ==Alternate timeline== | ||
{{Quote|My God. What have we done? I became a monster. It was as if Washington had some, some great power. [...] He clouded my mind... he, he...|Franklin, upon being freed from the Apple of Eden's control by Ratonhnhaké:ton.|The Tyranny of King Washington|Man of Mettle}} | |||
In an alternate reality created by an [[Apple of Eden 3|Apple of Eden]], Washington had used the artifact to gain control over the United States and proclaim himself king. He then put Franklin in charge of running Boston and stamping out the rebels led by Samuel Adams.<ref name="Prison Break">''[[Assassin's Creed III]] – [[The Tyranny of King Washington: The Betrayal]]'' – [[Prison Break]]</ref> He also had Franklin build a special lock for the throne room for his [[New York Pyramid|palace]] in [[New York City]]. Under the Apple's control, Franklin oversaw {{Wiki|John Adams}}' execution and the burning of the [[Old North Church]].<ref name="Man of Mettle">''[[Assassin's Creed III]] – [[The Tyranny of King Washington: The Betrayal]]'' – [[Man of Mettle]]</ref> | |||
Under the Apple's control, Franklin oversaw | |||
[[File:Prison Break 2.png|thumb|250px | [[File:Prison Break 2.png|thumb|250px|Franklin with King Washington and General Putnam]] | ||
When Ratonhnhaké:ton assassinated [[Benedict Arnold]], the general told him he had to find Franklin and free him of the king's control. After [[Israel Putnam]] captured the Assassin, he brought him to Boston as a gift so the king would replace Franklin with him. | When Ratonhnhaké:ton assassinated [[Benedict Arnold]], the general told him he had to find Franklin and free him of the king's control.<ref name="Justice Served">''[[Assassin's Creed III]] – [[The Tyranny of King Washington: The Infamy]]'' – [[Justice Served]]</ref> After [[Israel Putnam]] captured the Assassin, he brought him to Boston as a gift so the king would replace Franklin with him. Franklin came to have a look and tried to regain favor by revealing he had captured another [[Kanien'kehá:ka]] rebel, [[Kanen'tó:kon]]. The king ordered the two rebels to be executed alongside a score of random [[civilian]]s as an example. When Franklin deemed it to be rather harsh, the king reminded Franklin of his place, then later informed Putnam that he found Franklin to be going soft.<ref name="Prison Break" /> | ||
However, the Kanien'kehá:ka duo escaped from their cells, and Franklin ordered his guards to find and kill them, fearing Washington would execute him if they escaped. Kanen'tó:kon fended off the guards while Ratonhnhaké:ton pursued Franklin. The governor used a [[Chase breaker|merchandise lift]] to escape onto the rooftops, but Ratonhnhaké:ton [[Eagle Flight|transformed into an eagle]] and tackled him.<ref name="Dive Bomb">''[[Assassin's Creed III]] – [[The Tyranny of King Washington: The Betrayal]]'' – [[Dive Bomb]]</ref> | |||
[[File:Man of Mettle 3.png|thumb|250px|left|Ratonhnhaké:ton and Adams discussing the captive Franklin's fate]] | |||
Injured, Franklin roused from Washington's control, but the king teleported in and fought off the Assassin, thereby maintaining his grip on Franklin.<ref name="Consequences">''[[Assassin's Creed III]] – [[The Tyranny of King Washington: The Betrayal]]'' – [[Consequences (III)|Consequences]]</ref> Ratonhnhaké:ton did not give up, intercepting a message from Franklin to Putnam to meet at the docks. At the docks, Ratonhnhaké:ton watched Franklin meet with Putnam's messenger, who informed him the king had placed Putnam in charge of Boston.<ref name="Return to Sender">''[[Assassin's Creed III]] – [[The Tyranny of King Washington: The Betrayal]]'' – [[Return to Sender]]</ref> | |||
The Assassin began loosing arrows to capture Franklin, hitting him in non-fatal areas like the shoulder, injuries which again broke Washington's power over his mind. Franklin told Ratonhnhaké:ton he regretted what he did under the king's control, so the Assassin took him to Samuel Adams' hideout.<ref name="Return to Sender" /> Adams disbelieved Franklin, but Ratonhnhaké:ton convinced him to spare Franklin based on the information he could give the resistance. Franklin revealed he had created a means of protecting Washington's palace, and asked Ratonhnhaké:ton to collect a unique metal from the [[blacksmith]] [[David Walston]].<ref name="Man of Mettle" /> | |||
Ratonhnhaké:ton returned with a horse, revealing David had used his supply for [[horse]]shoes, which Franklin had to pry off with a crowbar.<ref name="Man of Mettle" /> He then sent Ratonhnhaké:ton to recover his plans for the key from a soldier. However, when Ratonhnhaké:ton returned with the diagram, he also brought the grave news that Adams and his rebels had been slaughtered by Putnam at [[Boston Neck]].<ref name="Pieces in Motion">''[[Assassin's Creed III]] – [[The Tyranny of King Washington: The Betrayal]]'' – [[Pieces in Motion]]</ref> | |||
[[File:Aquila Unchained 4.png|thumb|250px|Franklin disguised as a Bluecoat]] | |||
Ratonhnhaké:ton stated they would have to leave Boston by sea, and Franklin suggested using the ''[[Aquila]]'', a ship he had confiscated from [[Robert Faulkner]]. Ratonhnhaké:ton stole a Bluecoat uniform for Franklin to pass through the streets unnoticed to meet Faulkner, whom they promised they would return his ship if they found a crew.<ref name="Aquila Unchained">''[[Assassin's Creed III]] – [[The Tyranny of King Washington: The Betrayal]]'' – [[Aquila Unchained]]</ref> The following morning, the rebels escaped on the ''Aquila'' after Ratonhnhaké:ton assassinated Putnam.<ref name="Escape to New York">''[[Assassin's Creed III]] – [[The Tyranny of King Washington: The Betrayal]]'' – [[Escape to New York]]</ref> | |||
When they arrived in New York, the ''Aquila'' engaged and destroyed much of Washington's fleet, causing her to run out of [[gunpowder]]; Ratonhnhaké:ton ordered everyone on board to swim to shore while he rammed the ship. When Franklin came ashore, he was confronted by Washington, who tried to kill him for his betrayal. Kanen'tó:kon attacked the king, ultimately dying so Franklin could escape.<ref name="Dark Waters">''[[Assassin's Creed III]] – [[The Tyranny of King Washington: The Redemption]]'' – [[Dark Waters]]</ref> When Ratonhnhaké:ton arrived, Franklin informed him of what happened. Angered, the Assassin drank the [[tea]] of the [[Red Willow]] tree to undergo a spirit journey, and asked Franklin to watch over his body. When he awoke, having gained the [[Bear Might|power of the bear]], Franklin noticed the Assassin's eyes had turned an unusual blue.<ref name="Sky World Journey">''[[Assassin's Creed III]] – [[The Tyranny of King Washington: The Redemption]]'' – [[Sky World Journey (Redemption)|Sky World Journey]]</ref> | |||
[[File:Halls of Injustice 1.png|thumb|250px|left|Franklin, Jefferson, and Ratonhnhaké:ton during the attack on the Pyramid]] | |||
The two subsequently rendezvoused with Thomas Jefferson's rebels.<ref name="Parting of the Blue Sea">''[[Assassin's Creed III]] – [[The Tyranny of King Washington: The Redemption]]'' – [[The Parting of the Blue Sea]]</ref> While Ratonhnhaké:ton stirred unrest in the city, Franklin suggested watching a rally Washington was giving to get a sense of how large his forces were.<ref name="One Step at a Time">''[[Assassin's Creed III]] – [[The Tyranny of King Washington: The Redemption]]'' – [[One Step at a Time]]</ref> Ratonhnhaké:ton's work soon paid off, turning the citizens on the king's men, scattering his forces across the city, and allowing Jefferson's soldiers to attack the palace. Jefferson and Franklin met with Ratonhnhaké:ton before he entered the palace gates, where Franklin gave him the key to open the throne room.<ref name="Halls of Injustice">''[[Assassin's Creed III]] – [[The Tyranny of King Washington: The Redemption]]'' – [[Halls of Injustice]]</ref> | |||
[[File: | |||
Ratonhnhaké:ton | |||
[[ | |||
Ratonhnhaké:ton's work paid off, turning the citizens on the king's men, scattering his forces across the city, allowing Jefferson's soldiers to attack the palace. | |||
Jefferson and Franklin met with Ratonhnhaké:ton before he entered the palace gates, where Franklin gave him the key to open the throne room.<ref name=" | |||
==Legacy== | ==Legacy== | ||
Franklin was an inventor and scientist. | Franklin was an inventor and scientist. He is best known for flying a kite with a metal key attached to the bottom through storm clouds, to see if he could pick up an electrical charge and thereby prove lightning was electricity.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed III]]'' – [[Database: Kite and Key]]</ref><ref name="Echoes"/> | ||
He invented the {{Wiki|Franklin stove}}, a metal fireplace that could be placed in the middle of a room, rather than outside. Its efficiency displayed itself in that it could use a quarter of the wood of a traditional fireplace, but gave off twice as much heat. This stove also had a much smaller chance of giving off a spark that would start a fire.<ref | He invented the {{Wiki|Franklin stove}}, a metal fireplace that could be placed in the middle of a room, rather than outside. Its efficiency displayed itself in that it could use a quarter of the wood of a traditional fireplace, but gave off twice as much heat. This stove also had a much smaller chance of giving off a spark that would start a fire. Despite its ingenuity, Franklin decided not to patent the stove, as he wanted people to use his invention free of charge. This did not stop others from profiting with modified versions of the device, however.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed III]]'' – [[Database: Franklin Stove]]</ref> | ||
He also introduced the busybody, a set of three mirrors hung from a second floor window, based on a similar design he saw in Europe. These mirrors were angled so that people could look out to see who was knocking at their front door—a difficult prospect in parts of Philadelphia, where the buildings were high and narrow.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed III]]'' – [[Database: Busybody]]</ref> | |||
From there, he created the [[glass armonica]], a musical instrument consisting of bowls stacked together, which a person could use a treadle to turn and 'play' by running a wet finger along the turning edges of the bowls. He came up with this idea after seeing someone 'play' water-filled [[wine]] glasses at a show in [[London]]. The armonica debuted in London in 1762 and became quite popular for a time, particularly in [[Germany]];<ref name="Armonica">''[[Assassin's Creed III]]'' – [[Database: Glass Armonica]]</ref> the [[Austria|Austro]]-German composer [[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart]] later wrote two pieces for it in 1791, "{{Wiki|Adagio and Rondo for glass harmonica, flute, oboe, viola and cello|Adagio and Rondo}}" and "Adagio in C major (K. 356)".<ref>{{WP|Glass armonica}}</ref> However, its success was short-lived, because there was no way to amplify it to be heard in large concert halls at the time.<ref name="Armonica"/> | |||
Ratonhnhaké:ton [[Crafting (Assassin's Creed III)|crafted]] these inventions and the kite and key in a room at the [[Davenport Homestead]] after locating the stolen almanac pages. In a separate room, he kept copies of ''Poor Richard's Almanack''.<ref name="AC3" /> | |||
==Behind the scenes== | |||
Benjamin Franklin is a historical figure introduced in the 2012 video game ''[[Assassin's Creed III]]'', where he was voiced by the Canadian actor [[Rick Jones]]. Rick later reprised his role in the following [[Assassin's Creed III downloadable content|downloadable]] expansion ''[[The Tyranny of King Washington]]'', and again in the 2014 game ''[[Assassin's Creed: Rogue]]''. Franklin is briefly heard, although he is not seen, in an early sequence from the 2014 game ''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]'', where he is instead voiced by another Canadian, [[Tony Robinow]]. | |||
In ''The Tyranny of King Washington'', Franklin's main outfit looks similar to the outfit worn by [[François-Joseph Paul de Grasse]]. | |||
In [[Juhani Otso Berg]]'s office in ''Assassin's Creed: Rogue'', Franklin's picture appears alongside the Assassins despite him never learning of the Brotherhood's existence and unknowingly working with both Assassins and Templars during the game. | |||
Franklin's | In ''Assassin's Creed III'', Franklin is shown meeting Haytham immediately after the latter's arrival in Boston on 8 July 1754, but according to both historical records and ''Rogue'', he was attending the Albany Congress at the time, and forwarded his {{Wiki|Albany Plan}} on 10 July. For the sake of simplicity, the Assassin's Creed Wiki assumes that, in the games' universe, Franklin forwarded the Albany Plan earlier than he did in real-life, allowing him to be in Boston a few days later to meet Haytham. | ||
==Gallery== | ==Gallery== | ||
<gallery captionalign="center" position="center | <gallery captionalign="center" position="center" widths="180"> | ||
AC3 Benjamin Franklin William Wu.jpg|Concept art of Franklin in ''Assassin's Creed III'' | AC3 Benjamin Franklin William Wu.jpg|Concept art of Franklin in ''Assassin's Creed III'' | ||
Benjamin Franklin - Concept Art.jpg|Concept art of Franklin | Benjamin Franklin - Concept Art.jpg|Concept art of Franklin in ''Assassin's Creed III'' | ||
ACRG Benjamin Franklin - Concept Art.jpg|Concept art of Franklin | ACRG Benjamin Franklin - Concept Art.jpg|Concept art of Franklin in ''Assassin's Creed: Rogue'' | ||
BenFranklinPainting.jpg|A portrait of Franklin | BenFranklinPainting.jpg|A portrait of Franklin | ||
Franklin | AC3 Benjamin Franklin Disguise Model.jpg|Model of a disguised Franklin in ''The Tyranny of King Washington'' | ||
ACRogue Benjamin Franklin render.png| | AC3 Benjamin Franklin Disguise ZBrush Model.jpg|Model of a disguised Franklin in ''The Tyranny of King Washington'' | ||
ACRogue Benjamin Franklin render.png|Franklin as he appears in ''Assassin's Creed: Rogue'' | |||
We The People 3.png|Franklin talking with William Johnson | |||
Fiat Lux 4.png|Franklin and Shay setting up lighting rods for his experiment | |||
ACRG Assassination 1.png|Franklin and Shay arriving at the Palace of Versailles | |||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
==Appearances== | ==Appearances== | ||
*''[[Assassin's Creed III]]'' {{1st}} | *''[[Assassin's Creed III]]'' {{1st}} | ||
* | **''[[The Tyranny of King Washington]]'' | ||
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Rogue]]'' | *''[[Assassin's Creed: Rogue]]'' | ||
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]'' | *''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]'' {{c|voice only}} | ||
*''[[Assassin's Creed Unity: Abstergo Entertainment | *''[[Assassin's Creed Unity: Abstergo Entertainment – Employee Handbook]]'' | ||
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Underworld]]'' {{Mo}} | |||
*''[[Echoes of History]]'' {{Mo}} | |||
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Nexus VR]]'' {{Mdat}} | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
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Latest revision as of 01:49, 11 May 2026
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Patience, brothers. Soon we will reveal the secrets of Echoes of History. This article has been identified as being out of date. Please update the article to reflect recent releases and then remove this template once done. |
- "As I have stated previously, I believe we need a national union, granted by an act of Parliament but bringing greater independence to our colonies. The French are an immediate threat and we are ill-prepared to face them. To put it bluntly, the colonies must join, or die."
- ―Benjamin Franklin at the Albany Congress, 1754.[src]-[m]
Benjamin "Ben" Franklin (1706 – 1790) was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, he was a leading author, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, civic activist, and diplomat. As a Patriot, he played a pivotal role in the American Revolution which established the United States of America and acted as a crucial diplomat for the fledgling nation.
Franklin was acquainted with Assassins and Templars alike in the colonies, including the Colonial Templars' Grand Master Haytham Kenway, the Colonial Assassin Hope Jensen, and the Assassin defector Shay Cormac. On occasions, he assisted the Assassins and Templars but did not always realize the greater powers and conspiracies involved with his friendships.
Biography[edit | edit source]
Early life[edit | edit source]
Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston in 1706, the tenth son of the soap-maker[1] Josiah Franklin and his wife Abiah Folger.[2] He began working as an apprentice printer for his older brother[1] James in 1718.[3] Their relationship was rocky, particularly after Franklin's brother found out that he had been writing for the paper under the pseudonym of "Mrs. Silence Dogood" and had amassed a large following due to its popularity.[1][3]
Franklin ran away in 1723 and headed for Philadelphia, which became his primary residence for the rest of his life. In 1725, he visited the Royal Society of London in order to conduct scientific experiments, and upon his return to the Thirteen Colonies, established the Junto, a club for discussion of current issues and one of the colonies' first subscription libraries.[4]
Franklin also continued his career in printing and writing, eventually becoming the publisher of The Pennsylvania Gazette. His yearly almanac, Poor Richard's Almanack, became a bestselling success.[1] Over a decade later, he began experimenting with electricity, leading to his invention of devices such as the capacitor and Leyden jar.[4]
French and Indian War[edit | edit source]
In July 1754, Franklin attended the Albany Congress to discuss ending tensions with the Iroquois and defending the colonies against the French. He proposed a unified government to better organize the colonies and drew a political cartoon, "Join, or Die", depicting the colonies as a snake cut into eight parts.[5] The delegates accepted the proposal at the conference, but the colonies' legislatures and the British Board of Trade rejected the idea.[6]
Later, Franklin was tasked by the Templar William Johnson to study the Precursor box and the Voynich manuscript while remaining unaware of Johnson's actual allegiance. However, the Assassin Shay Cormac intervened, taking possession of the box and the manuscript.[5] He and fellow Assassin Hope Jensen then traveled to Sleepy Hollow, where they manipulated Franklin into assisting the Assassins in their search for the whereabouts of a Piece of Eden.[7]
Franklin, believing the two Assassins were Johnson's associates, agreed and was successful in locating the artifact by electrifying the box with lightning, though he was briefly knocked unconscious in the process. Hope then helped him evade the local militia, who had been alerted to the fact that Shay had stolen confiscated lightning rods from them.[7]
A few days later, Franklin arrived in Boston, where copies of his first almanac were stolen. The Templar Grand Master Haytham Kenway noticed his distress and offered a lending hand. Franklin was surprised but pleased—being unaware of the stranger's background—as those living in the colonial city usually refused to be of any help, and correctly assumed that he must be new to Boston.[8]
Franklin then requested that Haytham assist him with the task of finding his Almanac's other missing pages if he had the time.[8] The Grand Master eventually found all of the missing pages from a newly-printed first volume that collected some of Franklin's 1733 writings,[9] earning him Franklin's gratitude and £500.[10]
Later on, Franklin met Haytham at the local general store and recited an excerpt of his treatise "Advice to a Friend on Choosing a Mistress" on the benefits of having an older woman as a lover, much to Haytham's amusement. They met again another time, where Franklin explained the isolation he felt after the Albany Conference, as friends sought to distance themselves from his cartoon. He thanked Haytham for speaking with him and began expressing his belief that the Thirteen Colonies should be independent from the British Crown, which greatly intrigued Haytham.[10]
For the next few years, Franklin continued to work with Hope, and by 1756, had begun producing chemical weapons, grenades, poisonous gases, and more.[11] Shay, who by then had defected to the Templars,[12] was informed by his superior George Monro that the Assassins planned to use these weapons against colonial Loyalists who supported the British crown and the authorities of New York.[11]
Determined to avert this supposed terrorist plot, Shay infiltrated Franklin's residence, where the scientist was tricked into giving him the prototype grenade launcher he had been working on under the mistaken belief that Shay was still a friend of Hope. Afterwards, Shay used the grenade launcher to destroy the poison reserves.[11]
In 1757, Franklin went to London to represent Pennsylvania in an ongoing legal battle with William Penn's family. It was the first of several extended political trips to Britain, and he would act as the state representative for Massachusetts, Georgia, and New Jersey.[1]
American Revolution[edit | edit source]
Franklin was a vocal opponent of British impositions on the colonies, like the Stamp Act, and though he fought for the rights of colonists as British citizens, he became convinced that independence was the only real solution.[1] Unfortunately, Franklin's change of heart made him clash with his son William, the Royal Governor of New Jersey. The younger Franklin remained a fervent Loyalist and the coming revolution would ensure that the father and son would never speak to one another again.[1]
In the meantime, Franklin contributed to the writing of the Declaration of Independence, which was primarily drafted by Thomas Jefferson. On 4 July 1776, Franklin was present alongside Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and Adams' ally Ratonhnhaké:ton, where he signed the Declaration right after Hancock.[13]
American Ambassador to France[edit | edit source]
- Shay: "I need to meet... a business acquaintance. I heard he would be at the Château de Versailles, two days from now."
- Franklin: "And they don't just let anyone inside the royal palace. Very well. I'll see what can be arranged."
- —Shay requesting a favor from Franklin after saving him, 1776.[src]-[m]
For the rest of the American Revolutionary War, Franklin lived in Paris as America's ambassador to France from 1776 to 1785.[1] In December 1776, he was hunted by local criminals,[14] before being saved by Shay, who was also in the city at the time. Franklin informed Shay about his invitation to the Palace of Versailles, to which Shay requested a favor: to gain entry to the palace for him as well. Franklin agreed, still not realizing Shay's allegiance after all these years,[15] and was able to get him inside.[16]
During his time in France, Franklin also interacted with a young Arno Dorian during his childhood, and became acquainted with the French Assassins' Mentor Mirabeau. He eventually passed away on 17 April 1790 at the age of 84.[17]
Alternate timeline[edit | edit source]
In an alternate reality created by an Apple of Eden, Washington had used the artifact to gain control over the United States and proclaim himself king. He then put Franklin in charge of running Boston and stamping out the rebels led by Samuel Adams.[18] He also had Franklin build a special lock for the throne room for his palace in New York City. Under the Apple's control, Franklin oversaw John Adams' execution and the burning of the Old North Church.[19]
When Ratonhnhaké:ton assassinated Benedict Arnold, the general told him he had to find Franklin and free him of the king's control.[20] After Israel Putnam captured the Assassin, he brought him to Boston as a gift so the king would replace Franklin with him. Franklin came to have a look and tried to regain favor by revealing he had captured another Kanien'kehá:ka rebel, Kanen'tó:kon. The king ordered the two rebels to be executed alongside a score of random civilians as an example. When Franklin deemed it to be rather harsh, the king reminded Franklin of his place, then later informed Putnam that he found Franklin to be going soft.[18]
However, the Kanien'kehá:ka duo escaped from their cells, and Franklin ordered his guards to find and kill them, fearing Washington would execute him if they escaped. Kanen'tó:kon fended off the guards while Ratonhnhaké:ton pursued Franklin. The governor used a merchandise lift to escape onto the rooftops, but Ratonhnhaké:ton transformed into an eagle and tackled him.[21]
Injured, Franklin roused from Washington's control, but the king teleported in and fought off the Assassin, thereby maintaining his grip on Franklin.[22] Ratonhnhaké:ton did not give up, intercepting a message from Franklin to Putnam to meet at the docks. At the docks, Ratonhnhaké:ton watched Franklin meet with Putnam's messenger, who informed him the king had placed Putnam in charge of Boston.[23]
The Assassin began loosing arrows to capture Franklin, hitting him in non-fatal areas like the shoulder, injuries which again broke Washington's power over his mind. Franklin told Ratonhnhaké:ton he regretted what he did under the king's control, so the Assassin took him to Samuel Adams' hideout.[23] Adams disbelieved Franklin, but Ratonhnhaké:ton convinced him to spare Franklin based on the information he could give the resistance. Franklin revealed he had created a means of protecting Washington's palace, and asked Ratonhnhaké:ton to collect a unique metal from the blacksmith David Walston.[19]
Ratonhnhaké:ton returned with a horse, revealing David had used his supply for horseshoes, which Franklin had to pry off with a crowbar.[19] He then sent Ratonhnhaké:ton to recover his plans for the key from a soldier. However, when Ratonhnhaké:ton returned with the diagram, he also brought the grave news that Adams and his rebels had been slaughtered by Putnam at Boston Neck.[24]
Ratonhnhaké:ton stated they would have to leave Boston by sea, and Franklin suggested using the Aquila, a ship he had confiscated from Robert Faulkner. Ratonhnhaké:ton stole a Bluecoat uniform for Franklin to pass through the streets unnoticed to meet Faulkner, whom they promised they would return his ship if they found a crew.[25] The following morning, the rebels escaped on the Aquila after Ratonhnhaké:ton assassinated Putnam.[26]
When they arrived in New York, the Aquila engaged and destroyed much of Washington's fleet, causing her to run out of gunpowder; Ratonhnhaké:ton ordered everyone on board to swim to shore while he rammed the ship. When Franklin came ashore, he was confronted by Washington, who tried to kill him for his betrayal. Kanen'tó:kon attacked the king, ultimately dying so Franklin could escape.[27] When Ratonhnhaké:ton arrived, Franklin informed him of what happened. Angered, the Assassin drank the tea of the Red Willow tree to undergo a spirit journey, and asked Franklin to watch over his body. When he awoke, having gained the power of the bear, Franklin noticed the Assassin's eyes had turned an unusual blue.[28]
The two subsequently rendezvoused with Thomas Jefferson's rebels.[29] While Ratonhnhaké:ton stirred unrest in the city, Franklin suggested watching a rally Washington was giving to get a sense of how large his forces were.[30] Ratonhnhaké:ton's work soon paid off, turning the citizens on the king's men, scattering his forces across the city, and allowing Jefferson's soldiers to attack the palace. Jefferson and Franklin met with Ratonhnhaké:ton before he entered the palace gates, where Franklin gave him the key to open the throne room.[31]
Legacy[edit | edit source]
Franklin was an inventor and scientist. He is best known for flying a kite with a metal key attached to the bottom through storm clouds, to see if he could pick up an electrical charge and thereby prove lightning was electricity.[32][3]
He invented the Franklin stove, a metal fireplace that could be placed in the middle of a room, rather than outside. Its efficiency displayed itself in that it could use a quarter of the wood of a traditional fireplace, but gave off twice as much heat. This stove also had a much smaller chance of giving off a spark that would start a fire. Despite its ingenuity, Franklin decided not to patent the stove, as he wanted people to use his invention free of charge. This did not stop others from profiting with modified versions of the device, however.[33]
He also introduced the busybody, a set of three mirrors hung from a second floor window, based on a similar design he saw in Europe. These mirrors were angled so that people could look out to see who was knocking at their front door—a difficult prospect in parts of Philadelphia, where the buildings were high and narrow.[34]
From there, he created the glass armonica, a musical instrument consisting of bowls stacked together, which a person could use a treadle to turn and 'play' by running a wet finger along the turning edges of the bowls. He came up with this idea after seeing someone 'play' water-filled wine glasses at a show in London. The armonica debuted in London in 1762 and became quite popular for a time, particularly in Germany;[35] the Austro-German composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart later wrote two pieces for it in 1791, "Adagio and Rondo" and "Adagio in C major (K. 356)".[36] However, its success was short-lived, because there was no way to amplify it to be heard in large concert halls at the time.[35]
Ratonhnhaké:ton crafted these inventions and the kite and key in a room at the Davenport Homestead after locating the stolen almanac pages. In a separate room, he kept copies of Poor Richard's Almanack.[6]
Behind the scenes[edit | edit source]
Benjamin Franklin is a historical figure introduced in the 2012 video game Assassin's Creed III, where he was voiced by the Canadian actor Rick Jones. Rick later reprised his role in the following downloadable expansion The Tyranny of King Washington, and again in the 2014 game Assassin's Creed: Rogue. Franklin is briefly heard, although he is not seen, in an early sequence from the 2014 game Assassin's Creed: Unity, where he is instead voiced by another Canadian, Tony Robinow.
In The Tyranny of King Washington, Franklin's main outfit looks similar to the outfit worn by François-Joseph Paul de Grasse.
In Juhani Otso Berg's office in Assassin's Creed: Rogue, Franklin's picture appears alongside the Assassins despite him never learning of the Brotherhood's existence and unknowingly working with both Assassins and Templars during the game.
In Assassin's Creed III, Franklin is shown meeting Haytham immediately after the latter's arrival in Boston on 8 July 1754, but according to both historical records and Rogue, he was attending the Albany Congress at the time, and forwarded his Albany Plan on 10 July. For the sake of simplicity, the Assassin's Creed Wiki assumes that, in the games' universe, Franklin forwarded the Albany Plan earlier than he did in real-life, allowing him to be in Boston a few days later to meet Haytham.
Gallery[edit | edit source]
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Concept art of Franklin in Assassin's Creed III -
Concept art of Franklin in Assassin's Creed III -
Concept art of Franklin in Assassin's Creed: Rogue -
A portrait of Franklin -
Model of a disguised Franklin in The Tyranny of King Washington -
Model of a disguised Franklin in The Tyranny of King Washington -
Franklin as he appears in Assassin's Creed: Rogue -
Franklin talking with William Johnson -
Franklin and Shay setting up lighting rods for his experiment -
Franklin and Shay arriving at the Palace of Versailles
Appearances[edit | edit source]
- Assassin's Creed III (first appearance)
- Assassin's Creed: Rogue
- Assassin's Creed: Unity (voice only)
- Assassin's Creed Unity: Abstergo Entertainment – Employee Handbook
- Assassin's Creed: Underworld (mentioned only)
- Echoes of History (mentioned only)
- Assassin's Creed: Nexus VR (mentioned in Database entry only)
References[edit | edit source]
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