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Former good article nomineeBenjamin Franklin was a History good articles nominee, but did not meet the good article criteria at the time. There may be suggestions below for improving the article. Once these issues have been addressed, the article can be renominated. Editors may also seek a reassessment of the decision if they believe there was a mistake.
Article milestones
DateProcessResult
October 9, 2010Peer reviewReviewed
June 28, 2015Good article nomineeNot listed
On this day...Facts from this article were featured on Wikipedia's Main Page in the "On this day..." column on June 15, 2005, June 15, 2006, October 19, 2021, and April 17, 2022.
Current status: Former good article nominee


Semi-protected edit request on 28 February 2024

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(restored from archive)

When he returned home in 1785, Franklin occupied a position second only to that of George Washington as the champion of American independence. He returned from France with an unexplained shortage of 100,000 pounds in Congressional funds. In response to a question from a member of Congress about this, Franklin, quoting the Bible, quipped, "Muzzle not the ox that treadeth out his master's grain." The missing funds were never again mentioned in Congress.[1]

The above section from the page should be removed or changed, the source shown is correct that wording is from Harlow Unger's book. The book completely misrepresents the quote, timing, and meaning.

Cite: First the ill cite my source, The Works of Benjamin Franklin (New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons,1904, 12 vols.), 9:14. this is the exact citation used in Unger's book.

1. The 'question' from a member of congress did not happen upon Franklin's return from France in 1785. The correspondence was on 12 August, 1782. 3 years before his return. The subtitle of the work clearly states these letters are from 1781-1782.

2. The congressmen who questioned franklin was Robert Morris who held the position of superintendency of Finances. (first letter same cite). This was a time before the constitution he was acting with similar responsibility as the post constitution secretary of treasury.

3. I present you the quote from Benjamin franklin. "I observe what you mention of the order, that the ministers’ salaries are to be hereafter paid in America. I hereby empower and desire you to receive and remit mine. I do not doubt your doing it regularly and timely; for a minister without money, I perceive, makes a ridiculous figure here, though secure from arrests. I have taken a quarter’s advance of salary from the 4th of last month, supposing it not intended to muzzle immediately the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn." - He is stating that the money will be paid in America and since he is not in America, he will need to take that money out of a foreign loan.

4. "The missing funds were never again mentioned in Congress." They were never mentioned every in congress, just letters between the 'cabinet' members and Franklin. Franklin did have to write specifically about bill deferred or paid after that date like on 14 October 1782 when he wrote Robert Livingston about his pay. (Franklin, Benjamin. The Works of Benjamin Franklin, Vol. X Letters and Misc. Writings 1782-1784. G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1904, pp. 15-16.)

In conclusion, this quote misrepresents Franklin's position, counter party context, & basic timing. Harlow Giles Unger's book should not be used as a reliable source going forward. Snooky2go (talk) 07:06, 28 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

References

  1. ^ Harlow Giles Unger, "Thomas Paine and the Clarion Call for American Independence" (New York: Da Capo Press, 2019), p. 90.
 Not done: it's not clear what changes you want to be made. Please mention the specific changes in a "change X to Y" format and provide a reliable source if appropriate. Thickynugnug (talk) 03:54, 17 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

 Done

At https://oll.libertyfund.org/titles/franklin-the-works-of-benjamin-franklin-vol-ix-letters-and-misc-writings-1781-1782#lf1438-09_head_132, and https://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Paine-Clarion-American-Independence/dp/0306921936?asin=0306921936&revisionId=&format=4&depth=1 I find the quotes and citations ad noted above. It does seem that 'Harlow Giles Unger's book should not be used as a reliable source going forward.' All but 1st sentence removed.

Good catch. RememberOrwell (talk) 10:17, 1 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]


Semi-protected edit request on 29 October 2024

[edit]
Wyatt Hasler (talk) 03:42, 29 October 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I would like to submit an edit due to a spelling error

 Not done: it's not clear what changes you want to be made. Please mention the specific changes in a "change X to Y" format and provide a reliable source if appropriate. ⸺(Random)staplers 04:01, 29 October 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Semi-protected edit request on 12 December 2024

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2409:40E4:20:B699:8000:0:0:0 (talk) 16:35, 12 December 2024 (UTC)free fire max[reply]
 Not done: it's not clear what changes you want to be made. Please mention the specific changes in a "change X to Y" format and provide a reliable source if appropriate. The AP (talk) 16:43, 12 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Dubious edits to sourcing

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https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Benjamin_Franklin&diff=prev&oldid=1260440125

e.g. What kind of cite is "Benjamin franklin". December 2022., that is {{::Cite news |date=December 2022 |title=Benjamin franklin}}? @AIVOP? RememberOrwell (talk) 09:30, 1 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@RememberOrwell: That seems to be a "cite" created from a {{citation needed}} template, and lacking any validity. You should perhaps consider reverting the edit in toto. Fabrickator (talk) 10:15, 1 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
That's what I was thinking. I'd thought perhaps it's an attempt to reference the Apple show Franklin_(miniseries) but that was 2024. Just tried but 'The edit could not be undone due to conflicting intermediate edits' so another reason to hold off. RememberOrwell (talk) 02:52, 3 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Ha ha, I remember the days before they had the "revert" option. There were several pertinent places to be reverted but they were not really entangled. Essentially I just reinstated the several instances of the {{citation needed}} templates that had been removed. Fabrickator (talk) 15:45, 3 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
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Hello! This is to let editors know that File:Joseph Siffrein Duplessis - Benjamin Franklin - Google Art Project.jpg, a featured picture used in this article, has been selected as the English Wikipedia's picture of the day (POTD) for January 17, 2025. A preview of the POTD is displayed below and can be edited at Template:POTD/2025-01-17. For the greater benefit of readers, any potential improvements or maintenance that could benefit the quality of this article should be done before its scheduled appearance on the Main Page. If you have any concerns, please place a message at Wikipedia talk:Picture of the day. Thank you! Jay8g [V•T•E] 23:06, 12 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin (January 17, 1706 – April 17, 1790) was an American polymath: a writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, printer, publisher and political philosopher. Among the most influential intellectuals of his time, Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States; a drafter and signer of the Declaration of Independence; and the first postmaster general. Franklin became a successful newspaper editor and printer in Philadelphia, the leading city in the colonies, publishing The Pennsylvania Gazette at age 23. He became wealthy publishing this and Poor Richard's Almanack, which he wrote under the pseudonym "Richard Saunders". As a scientist, his studies of electricity made him a major figure in the American Enlightenment and the history of physics. His inventions include the lightning rod, bifocals, glass harmonica and the Franklin stove. This 1778 portrait of Franklin was painted by Joseph Duplessis.

Painting credit: Joseph Duplessis

Friendship with Voltaire and the Les Neuf Sœurs Paris Lodge

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The article titled Voltaire affirms:

Voltaire was initiated into Freemasonry a little over a month before his death. On 4 April 1778, he attended la Loge des Neuf Sœurs in Paris, and became an Entered Apprentice Freemason. According to some sources, "Benjamin Franklin ... urged Voltaire to become a freemason; and Voltaire agreed, perhaps only to please Franklin."[1][2][3] However, Franklin was merely a visitor at the time Voltaire was initiated, the two only met a month before Voltaire's death, and their interactions with each other were brief.[4]

Franklin was not a mere visitor of the Les Neuf Sœurs Paris Lodge; he was the "ambassador" to France for the English colonies in America ([1]).

He also was Les Neuf Sœurs' Venerable Master (essentiels.bnf.fr, archived https://archive.is/wip/6RqkE on 22-01-2025).

In this sense, in founders.archives.gov is available a letter dated May 21, 1779 (archived https://archive.is/Djjmz); another letter is dated back to [https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-31-02-0250 January 10, 1780.

The same scottishritenmj.org ends: "it is no surprise Franklin became Venerable Master of The Lodge of Nine Sisters, serving from 1779 to 1781."

The current WP article lacks of this statement.

References

  1. ^ Jasper Ridley (2011). The Freemasons: A History of the World's Most Powerful Secret Society. Skyhorse Publishing Inc. p. 141. ISBN 978-1-61145-010-1.
  2. ^ "I did not know that: Mason Facts". Archived from the original on 12 January 2007.
  3. ^ "Voltaire". freemasonry.bcy.ca.
  4. ^ Young, Adrian (19 July 2010). "When Franklin Met Voltaire". Family Security Matters. Archived from the original on 8 August 2020. Retrieved 25 June 2018.

79.50.174.69 (talk) 21:35, 22 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Because it's not that important, all else being equal, what social clubs historical figures are members of. It's likely not worth mentioning unless there's anything he did other than "having friends". Remsense ‥ 论 23:18, 22 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Yes, this seems important to include. Not only because of the prominence of this Lodge but the contacts and trust Franklin would have obtained as a member. Randy Kryn (talk) 00:14, 23 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
If there's a good source to cite that ropes all that in, then I agree of course. Remsense ‥ 论 00:18, 23 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Maybe the IP editor who suggested the addition can find some further sources, but those they provided above may give the overview needed. Please also read the Lodge's page (Les Neuf Sœurs) which seems to have a focus on its prominence in the American Revolution (likely much of that due to Franklin). Randy Kryn (talk) 00:24, 23 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
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