Benjamin Franklin: the Oprah of his time

In many respects, Oprah is like the modern day Benjamin Franklin. When she speaks, people listen. If a product or an idea is associated with her name, it becomes an instant success. Franklin’s overwhelming influence on society, not only during his lifetime but also in the decades following his death, becomes quite clear in Part 3 of his Autobiography. Franklin was probably one of the first people in the colonies to promote the education of women. He realized that women who were uneducated and suddenly widowed were at a strong disadvantage, thus Franklin felt that by educating young women, they would be well prepared “to continue, perhaps, a profitable mercantile house, with establish’d correspondence, till a son is grown up fit to undertake and go on with it” (97-98). Although this is the only time he mentions this suggestion, this idea coming from someone who is so influential among his peers is a huge step in the educating of women. Furthermore, when France joined forces with Spain in a war against Britain, Franklin saw the need for defense in the colonies. So, he wrote a pamphlet entitled “Plain Truth” in an attempt to persuade the Quaker Assembly to pass a militia law in order to build up a defense system in the colonies. The pamphlet was just a simple call for volunteers to form a militia to defend the colonies if the need should arise. To Franklin’s surprise the pamphlet had a huge effect with 1200 people at the first meeting and a total of 10,000 subscribers to the pamphlet. Clearly, Franklin’s word is nothing to be taken lightly. As previously stated, when Franklin spoke, everyone listened. The influence that Franklin held over everyone he came in contact with, I think is very impressive.
Franklin’s influence is further illustrated in part 3 when he mentions the establishment of a hospital in Philadelphia. Dr. Thomas Bond was responsible for the idea of the hospital, but when he tried to spread the idea to the people we says he was “often ask'd by those to whom I propose subscribing, Have you consulted Franklin upon this business? And what does he think of it? And when I tell them that I have not (supposing it rather out of your line), they do not subscribe, but say they will consider of it” (121-122). Therefore, Bond had to approach Franklin to get his approval of the idea before it could be set in motion. Once Franklin subscribed to the idea and rallied a few more people to subscribe, the hospital proposal spread like wildfire, which further proves that if something was associated with Benjamin Franklin, it was often a huge success. Reverend Gilbert Tennent also comes to Franklin for his magic touch. Tennent wanted to raise money for a new meeting house, but needed Franklin’s help in procuring a subscription. Franklin shared with Tennet his advice for raising money, which Tennet followed and quickly raised the necessary money to build the meeting house. The examples of Franklin’s influence continue throughout part 3, from his work in paving the roads of Philadelphia and London, to his influential role in the French and Indian War. Franklin’s peers look to him for leadership. In reading Autobiography, I had become very fascinated with Franklin’s innate charisma, confidence, and leadership that allowed him to have such a strong impact on society. He may not have been quite as rich or owned quite as many luxuries as Oprah, but he certainly shares in her ability to make an impact everyone whom she comes in contact with.