The Franklin Family Split: A Microcosm of America's Revolutionary Civil War

In a quiet London graveyard near the Eurostar terminal, a headstone marks the final resting place of William Franklin—the eldest son of Benjamin Franklin. He died in 1813, more than three decades after being forced to leave America for his unwavering loyalty to the British Crown.

His burial in the heart of the former empire is a stark reminder that the American Revolution was not just a united struggle for independence, but a bitter civil war that tore apart families and communities. Historians note that this internal conflict, which began 250 years ago, continues to shape the American experience.

"The American Revolution is an ongoing event," said James Taub, associate curator at the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia. "We are living it, right still to this day."

The Franklin family's story embodies this division. In 1752, William stood beside his father during the famous kite experiment. Five years later, they traveled to London together, where William studied law and married while his father represented colonial Pennsylvania. William returned to America and became the royal governor of New Jersey in 1763.

But when Benjamin Franklin returned to Philadelphia in 1775, the family fractured. While the elder Franklin championed independence in the Continental Congress, William rejected its authority and remained loyal to King George III. In January 1776, William was arrested as "an enemy of the country's liberty" and imprisoned until October 1778, much of it in solitary confinement.

After his release, William led the loyalist community in British-occupied New York City. When the British were defeated, he sailed for London in 1782. He is believed to have met his father only once more before Benjamin's death in 1790.

Author Daniel Mark Epstein, who chronicled the relationship in "The Loyal Son," notes that Benjamin repeatedly warned his son to step down as governor. "He was absolutely not gonna budge," Epstein said. "He was the last governor to leave his office, and he had to be dragged away literally in irons."

Epstein sees the Franklin story as a cautionary tale for modern America, pointing to declining educational standards and easy access to weapons. "People find it very, very difficult to have rational arguments because they don't have the language," he said.

Taub offers a broader perspective, suggesting that understanding the Revolution's complexities helps Americans appreciate the Declaration of Independence's uniqueness. "It makes me feel better about us today," he said. "We're just part of 250 years of an ongoing story and 250 years of an ongoing mission."