William Franklin The Forgotten Loyalist

William Franklin, Benjamin Franklin’s son, was far more than a Loyalist footnote—he was New Jersey’s last royal governor, deeply committed to the colony’s growth, building roads and fostering settlement. As revolution surged, he fought to keep colonial governance alive while Patriot leaders dismantled the royal system from within. Torn between his father’s growing anti-British stance and his own loyalty to the Crown, William refused to resign, even as his authority crumbled. By 1776, he was arrested, branded a traitor, and imprisoned—separated from his wife who died before his release. He later rallied Loyalists in New York, helping form a militant resistance group that spiraled into violence, ultimately forcing him to flee to England in 1782, marking the end of his American political journey. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/032f26f44789be8a