Simone Lawson
Benjamin Franklin was a key figure in the creation of the US Constitution. At 81, Franklin was the senior statesman at the Constitutional Convention, where he was three times the age of the youngest delegate and twice the average age of all delegates. Franklin was also the most renowned American of his age, and his moderate temperament helped bring contending parties together. He served as an unofficial host for delegates, and his home was George Washington's first stop upon arriving in Philadelphia. Franklin's influence extended beyond the Convention, as he sent a copy of the Constitution to a Paris banker to raise political and financial support for the new nation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Age | 81 |
| Role | Senior statesman |
| Temperament | Moderate |
| Outlook | Optimistic and universal |
| Influence | Most renowned American of his age |
| Hospitality | Unofficial host for delegates |
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What You'll Learn
- Franklin's moderate temperament and ability to bring people together was important
- He was the senior statesman at 81, serving as an unofficial host to delegates
- Franklin's optimism and universal outlook were reflected in his actions
- He agreed to the Constitution, despite its faults, believing it to be necessary
- Franklin's wisdom and experience influenced his views on the Constitution
Franklin's moderate temperament and ability to bring people together was important
Benjamin Franklin was 81 years old when he attended the Constitutional Convention, making him the senior statesman among a group of young men. He was twice the average age of all the delegates, and three times the age of the youngest delegate, Jonathan Dayton of New Jersey, aged 26.
Franklin's moderate temperament and ability to bring people together were important assets during the Convention. He served as an unofficial host for delegates, welcoming them to his garden with a keg of dark beer or a cup of tea. Franklin's ability to bring contending parties together was also reflected in his decision to nominate George Washington as the convention's presiding officer, despite the fact that he was the only other contender for the position himself.
Franklin's moderate temperament was also evident in his willingness to compromise and respect the judgment of others. In his closing address to the Convention, he acknowledged that there were parts of the Constitution that he did not approve of, but recognised that his opinions could change with "better information" or "fuller consideration". He also expressed doubt in his own judgment, stating that the older he grew, the more he respected the judgment of others.
Franklin's moderate and respectful approach to disagreement is also reflected in his statement that he had never shared his objections to the Constitution with anyone outside the Convention, sacrificing his own opinions for the "public good". He also recognised the importance of a general government and believed that any form of government "may be a blessing to the people if well administered".
Franklin's ability to bring people together extended beyond the borders of the United States. He sent a copy of the proposed Constitution to a banker in Paris, seeking to raise political and financial support for the new nation. This action demonstrates his optimistic and universal outlook, as well as his understanding of the global implications of the Convention.
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He was the senior statesman at 81, serving as an unofficial host to delegates
Benjamin Franklin was 81 years old when he attended the Constitutional Convention, making him the senior statesman among a group of young men. He was three times the age of the youngest delegate, 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton of New Jersey, and twice the average age of all the delegates, which was 41. Franklin was also the most renowned American of his age. His fame and wisdom were recognised by the delegates, as evidenced by Georgia delegate William Pierce, who described Franklin as "the greatest philosopher of the present age".
Franklin's moderate temperament and ability to bring contending parties together served him well during the Convention. He thought beyond American borders when considering the possibilities set in motion by the Convention. For instance, in October, before any state had ratified the Constitution, Franklin sent a copy of the document to a Paris banker, Ferdinand Grand. In his accompanying note, Franklin expressed his optimistic and universal outlook: "I send you the enclos’d the propos’d new Federal Constitution for these States. I was engag’d 4 Months of the last Summer in the Convention that form’d it. It is now sent by Congress to the several States for their Confirmation."
Franklin served as an unofficial host for the delegates, welcoming them to his garden with a keg of dark beer or a cup of tea. George Washington, for instance, paid a call on Franklin at his home, just blocks from Independence Hall in Philadelphia, upon his arrival in the city. Franklin was the only contender against Washington for the role of the convention’s presiding officer. However, he intended to nominate Washington for that position. Unfortunately, stormy weather prevented Franklin from attending the Convention’s opening session, so he asked the Pennsylvania delegation to nominate Washington on his behalf, which they did.
Franklin's closing remarks at the Convention reflected his moderate and thoughtful approach. He acknowledged that there were parts of the Constitution that he did not approve of, but he remained open to the possibility that his opinions could change with better information or fuller consideration. He stated that, as he had grown older, he had become more apt to doubt his own judgment and pay more respect to the judgments of others. Franklin's wisdom and experience played an important role in the Constitutional Convention, and his influence extended beyond the borders of the young nation.
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Franklin's optimism and universal outlook were reflected in his actions
Benjamin Franklin was the senior statesman at the Constitutional Convention, at 81 years old, and his optimism and universal outlook were reflected in his actions. He was twice the average age of the delegates, and three times the age of the youngest, yet he served as an unofficial host, welcoming delegates to his garden with beer or tea. He was also the most renowned American of his age.
Franklin's moderate temperament and ability to bring contending parties together were important during the Convention. He thought beyond American borders when he considered the possibilities set in motion by the Convention. In October, before any state had ratified the Constitution, Franklin sent a copy of the document to a Paris banker, Ferdinand Grand. His accompanying note reflects his optimistic and universal outlook:
> "I send you the enclos’d the propos’d new Federal Constitution for these States. I was engag’d 4 Months of the last Summer in the Convention that form’d it. It is now sent by Congress to the several States for their Confirmation."
Franklin's optimism is also reflected in his closing words at the Convention. Despite confessing that there were parts of the Constitution that he did not approve of, he expressed his willingness to change his opinions with "better information" or "fuller consideration". He also recognised the value of the joint wisdom of the assembly, despite their prejudices and passions, and believed that a general government was necessary and could be a blessing to the people if well administered.
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He agreed to the Constitution, despite its faults, believing it to be necessary
Benjamin Franklin was 81 years old when he attended the Constitutional Convention in 1787, making him the senior statesman at a convention of young men. He was twice the average age of all the delegates, and three times the age of the youngest delegate, Jonathan Dayton of New Jersey, aged 26. Franklin was also the most renowned American of the age.
Franklin agreed to the Constitution, despite its faults, believing it to be necessary. He said:
> "I confess that there are several parts of this constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them: For having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being obliged by better information, or fuller consideration, to change opinions even on important subjects, which I once thought right, but found to be otherwise. It is therefore that the older I grow, the more apt I am to doubt my own judgment, and to pay more respect to the judgment of others. Most men indeed as well as most sects in Religion, think themselves in possession of all truth, and that wherever others differ from them it is so far error. Steele a Protestant in a Dedication tells the Pope, that the only difference between our Churches in their opinions of the certainty of their doctrines is, the Church of Rome is infallible and the Church of England is never in the wrong."
> "In these sentiments, Sir, I agree to this Constitution with all its faults, if they are such; because I think a general Government necessary for us, and there is no form of Government but what may be a blessing to the people if well administered, and believe farther that this is likely to be well administered for a course of years, and can only end in Despotism, as other forms have done before it, when the people shall become so corrupted as to need despotic Government, being incapable of any other. I doubt too whether any other Convention we can obtain, may be able to make a better Constitution. For when you assemble a number of men to have the advantage of their joint wisdom, you inevitably assemble with those men, all their prejudices, their passions, their errors of opinion, their local interests, and their selfish views. From such an assembly can a perfect production be expected?"
> "It therefore astonishes me, Sir, to find this system approaching so near to perfection as it does; and I think it will astonish our enemies, who are waiting with confidence to hear that our councils are confounded like those of the Builders of Babel; and that our States are on the point of separation, only to meet hereafter for the purpose of cutting one another’s throats. Thus I consent, Sir, to this Constitution because I expect no better, and because I am not sure, that it is not the best. The opinions I have had of its errors, I sacrifice to the public good. I have never whispered a syllable of them abroad. Within these walls they were born, and here they shall die. If every one of us in returning to our Constituents were to report the objections he has had to it, and endeavor to gain partizans in support of them, we might prevent its being generally received, and thereby lose all the salutary effects & great advantages resulting naturally in our favor among foreign Nations as well."
Franklin served as an unofficial host for delegates, opening his garden to them with a keg of dark beer or a cup of tea at the ready. He also sent a copy of the Constitution to a Paris banker, Ferdinand Grand, in the hopes of raising political and financial support for the new nation.
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Franklin's wisdom and experience influenced his views on the Constitution
Benjamin Franklin was 81 years old when he attended the Constitutional Convention, making him the senior statesman among a group of young men. He was twice the average age of all the delegates, and three times the age of the youngest delegate, Jonathan Dayton of New Jersey, aged 26. Franklin was also the most renowned American of his age.
Franklin's experience and outlook are evident in his actions during the Convention. He served as an unofficial host for the delegates, opening his garden to them and offering refreshments. Notably, Franklin intended to nominate George Washington as the convention's presiding officer, but stormy weather prevented him from attending the opening session. Instead, he requested that the entire Pennsylvania delegation nominate Washington, which they did.
Franklin's pragmatism and foresight are further demonstrated in his interactions with foreign entities. Even before any state had ratified the Constitution, Franklin sent a copy of the document to Ferdinand Grand, a Paris banker he had met during his diplomatic mission to France. This action reflected his optimistic and universal outlook, as he sought to raise both political and financial support for the new nation.
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Frequently asked questions
At 81, Benjamin Franklin was the senior statesman at the Constitutional Convention. He served as an unofficial host for delegates, opening his garden to them with refreshments. He was also the most renowned American of his age.
Benjamin Franklin agreed to the Constitution despite its faults because he thought a general government was necessary. He also believed that there was no form of government that could not be a blessing to the people if it was well-administered. However, he also acknowledged that there were parts of the Constitution that he did not approve of and that he expected no better Constitution to be formed.
After the convention, Benjamin Franklin sent a copy of the Constitution to a Paris banker, Ferdinand Grand, to raise political and financial support for the new nation.
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