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Deborah Read Franklin (c. 1708 – December 19, 1774) was the common-law wife of Benjamin Franklin, polymath and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States.
Franklin’s wife, Deborah Read, was an important part of his life and helped him achieve his many accomplishments. Deborah was a strong and independent woman who supported her husband’s work and helped him become one of the most famous Americans of all time.
How did Benjamin Franklin live apart from his wife Deborah Read for nearly two decades? A new theory suggests that a dispute over their son's smallpox inoculation was the cause.
- She and Ben were never legally married. She moved into his house on September 1, 1730, in a common law marriage.
- After living together for six months, Ben brought home his illegitimate son, William, whom Deborah was forced to raise.
- Deborah was a skilled bookkeeper to whom Ben assigned power of attorney during his travels – an unusual position for colonial women whose duties typically centered around home and hearth.
- In early 1756, during the French and Indian War, Ben traveled to the Pennsylvania frontier near the Ohio River Valley. Despite the distance and turmoil, Deborah managed to send him roast beef and minced pies.
Feb 14, 2020 · Deborah Read Franklin was the wife of Benjamin Franklin, whom she met and helped as a child. They married after his first wife died, and had a happy and productive life until she died of a stroke.
Deborah Read Franklin was the common-law wife of Benjamin Franklin, a founding father of the United States. She managed their family business and supported him in his political career, despite their different personalities and long separations.
American colonist and wife of Franklin. Learn about this topic in these articles: relationship with Franklin. In Benjamin Franklin: Youthful adventures. …the Read family, where stood Deborah, his future wife. She saw him and “thought I made, as I certainly did, a most awkward ridiculous Appearance.” Read More.
