William Franklin
The Loyalist son of Benjamin Franklin, serving as the Royal Governor of New Jersey.
Core Belief
"Maintaining order and stability are essential. He believes that the colonies are best served by remaining within the British Empire and upholding the authority of the Crown."
Worldview
Franklin sees the world through the lens of duty and responsibility. He values order and believes that the colonies should strive for gradual reform within the existing system.
Personality
Torn between his loyalty to the Crown and his familial affection, Franklin embodies the divided loyalties of the era. He is a capable administrator, but his commitment to the Crown leads him into conflict with his father and the revolutionary movement.
In Their Own Words
""During the course of my life," said he, "and until the second petition of Congress in 1775, I never did hear an American of any class or of any description express a wish for the independence of the colonies.""
""I doubt whether there is a greater incendiary in the King's dominion or a man of greater malignity of heart, who has less scruples any measure ever so criminal to accomplish his purposes; and I think I do him no injustice when I suppose he wishes the destruction of every friend to government in America.""
""I am engaged in a famous cause. The cause of King of Scarborough _versus_ a mob that broke into his house and rifled his papers and terrified him, his wife, children and servants, in the night. The terror and distress, the distraction and horror of this family, cannot be described in words, or painted upon canvas. It is enough to move a statue, to melt a heart of stone, to read the story. A mind susceptible of the feelings of humanity, a heart which can be touched with sensibility for human misery and wretchedness, must relent, must burn with resentment and indignation at such outrageous injuries. These private mobs I do and will detest.""
Other Characters from The Loyalists of Massachusetts and the Other Side of the American Revolution
Thomas Hutchinson
Governor of Massachusetts, a Loyalist deeply connected to the colony but ultimately loyal to the Crown.
Samuel Adams
A leading figure in the American Revolution, a skilled agitator, and a staunch advocate for colonial independence.
John Hancock
A wealthy merchant and prominent figure in the American Revolution, known for his signature on the Declaration of Independence.
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