Print Journalism and Benjamin Franklin's Scientific Politics

Abstract

Eighteenth-century print journalism was a key source of new scientific findings. Edward Cave's Gentleman's Magazine, the case in point, offered the first articles related to Benjamin Franklin's electrical experiments in 1749, leading to Cave's publication in 1751 of Experiments and Observations on Electricity Made at Philadelphia in America. By examining closely Franklin's journal and pamphlet contributions in the area of electricity and other scientific phenomena, we witness Franklin's efforts to foster political change by using his scientific fame. When he responded to Parliament's Iron Act (1750) with a new pamphlet, ‘Observations on the Increase of Mankind’, and then in 1769 published the pamphlet appended to new experiments, Franklin made clear his argument — presented in the court circles of Britain and France — that he wished European readers would consider his scientific writings as part of his argument for the political significance of North America, particularly regarding political self-determination. Franklin attempted to foster political change by using his scientific fame in Britain and then in France.