Benjamin Franklin Was A Vegetarian

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic by 19 people | Log in to rate

Ranked #4,506 in People, #83,779 overall

Why did Benjamin Franklin quit eating meat?

Benjamin Franklin was a vegetarian.

In his own words:

"When about 16 Years of Age, I happen'd to meet with a Book, written by one Tryon, recommending a Vegetable Diet. I determined to go into it. My Brother being yet unmarried, did not keep House, but boarded himself and his Apprentices in another Family. My refusing to eat Flesh occasioned an Inconveniency, and I was frequently chid for my singularity."

- From The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin




If you're not a member of Squidoo yet, please join.

Subscribe to get notifications of my lens updates by email.
Note: This updates you on ALL my lenses, not just this one!

Vegetarian No More 

After a few years as a vegetarian, he strayed, but only with good reason:

"I believe I have omitted mentioning that in my first Voyage from Boston, being becalm'd off Block Island, our People set about catching Cod and hawl'd up a great many. Hitherto I had stuck to my Resolution of not eating animal Food; and on this Occasion, I consider'd with my Master Tryon, the taking every Fish as a kind of unprovok'd Murder, since none of them had or ever could do us any Injury that might justify the Slaughter. All this seem'd very reasonable. But I had formerly been a great Lover of Fish, and when this came hot out of the Frying Pan, it smelt admirably well. I balanc'd some time between Principle and Inclination: till I recollected, that when the Fish were opened, I saw smaller Fish taken out of their Stomachs: Then thought I, if you eat one another, I don't see why we mayn't eat you. So I din'd upon Cod very heartily and continu'd to eat with other People, returning only now and than occasionally to a vegetable Diet. So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for every thing one has a mind to do."

- From The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

Learn something new about this great philosopher 

I'm impressed by Franklin's vegetarianism, and his subsequent decision to eat fish, because it shows that he was a man who thought for himself. Even though he was "frequently chid" for his vegetarianism, he acted on his own conscience without fail.

Now what I'm trying to get across by shocking people with Franklin's diet, is that he is a man who most of us don't know very well, who lived an outstandingly upright and principled life worth learning about. I read his autobiography last year and was moved by his humble lessons and steadfast perserverance, as well as his delightful humor. I'd like for more people to know about this fine man.

Benjamin Franklin was a great writer. He wrote an autobiography, Poor Richard's Almanac, and hundreds of letters. He was a journalist, publisher, and printer. He had an amazing sense of humor. He was dedicated to the founding of the United States. He established a career as a printer and journalist, founded the first volunteer fire department in the USA, and was voted into office, ending up a great statesman. I highly recommend getting to know him better through his books and other writings.

Benjamin Franklin - 1706 to 1790

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin 

...in his own words

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin was written in two parts. The early years are described with great wit and wisdom. He talks about embarrassing lessons he learned, his vegetarianism, his career development path, and the woman he fell in love with, then later lived with in a common law marriage.

The second half of the book, written much later after he was urged to complete his memoirs, was from a much different perspective -- that of an important statesman working to build the new United States of America.



Loading Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
eBay

Silence Dogood 

...a pseudonym for the master himself!

Starting on April 2, 1772, Benjamin Franklin published a series of letters in his newspaper from a person named Silence Dogood. Actually, these letters were written by Franklin himself using a pseudonym in order to call attention to issues he apparently didn't want to put his own name to.

As I've been a newspaper editor before, I can totally understand the desire to write letters to make up for the letters that don't come in from the general public, though I didn't do it. Newspaper editing can be a lonely thing, even when you request letters, columns, and writers. Especially for newer publications.

The letters started with this line:

"It may not be improper in the first place to inform your Readers, that I intend once a Fortnight to present them, by the Help of this Paper, with a short Epistle, which I presume will add somewhat to their Entertainment."

You can read them online at Benjamin Franklin Papers - a reference site of all Benjamin Franklin letters and writings, provided by Yale University.

Benjamin Franklin Quotes 

...vote for your favorite.

What we have here is a series of short quotes by Benjamin Franklin. You'll have to click "more" to read each one, but don't worry, the page doesn't have to reload - the rest of the quote will simply appear thanks to the wonders of DHTML web programming.

Anyhow, you can vote for the quote or quotes you like best and identify with. I think you'll be pleased with Benjamin Franklin's ethics and philosophies.



Self-Sufficiency

"To be thrown upon one's own resources, is to more...3 points

Action

"Never confuse motion with action." -Ben more...2 points

Time

"Dost thou love life? Then do not squander ti more...2 points

Persuasion

"If you would persuade, you must appeal to in more...2 points

Persistence

"Energy and persistence conquer all things&qu more...2 points

Anger

"Whatever is begun in anger ends in shame.&qu more...1 point

Talent

"Hide not your talents. They for use were mad more...1 point

Sense

"Where sense is wanting, everything is wantin more...0 points

Work

"Plough deep while sluggards sleep." -Be more...0 points

A Blessing From Benjamin Franklin 

These Blessings, Reader, may Heav'n grant to thee;

A faithful Friend, equal in Love's degree;

Land fruitful, never conscious of the Curse,

A liberal Heart and never-failing Purse;

A smiling Conscience, a contented mind;

A temp'rate Knowledge with true Wisdom join'd;

A Life as long as fair, and when expir'd,

A kindly Death, unfear'd as undesir'd.

- From Poor Richard's Almanac, 1745

Poor Richard's Almanac 

...a bit of timely wisdom.

One thing I love about Benjamin Franklin is that he wasn't afraid to use pseudonyms to disguise himself in order to produce entertaining writings. For the purpose of this series of Almanacs, published annually from 1732 to 1758, Franklin wrote as poor Richard Saunders, who referred to Franklin as his publisher.

Saunders wrote about astrology and made predictions (some, of a humorous nature) which endears him to me even more as I'm into predictions. Saunders also included many aphorisms and proverbs for which Franklin was famous.



Loading Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
eBay

Poverty

"Having been poor is no shame, but being ashamed of it, is." - Benjamin Franklin

More Benjamin Franklin Books 

...many of these are about Franklin, by other authors

Loading Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
eBay

Benjamin Franklin on the One Hundred Dollar Bill 

Wishing you many more visits with Benjamin Franklin.
Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin Collectibles 

Loading Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
eBay

The Franklin Party 

Benjamin Franklin Links 

Benjamin Franklin Wikipedia Page
All about Benjamin Franklin.
Benjamin Franklin - Wikiquote
Benjamin Franklin quotes - lots of them!
CNN: Forgotten Franklin letters offer glimpse into U.S. history - April 2009
An American professor doing research in London stumbled across a series of previously unknown letters written by, to, and about Benjamin Franklin, a stunning find that sheds new light on early U.S. history.
More Famous Vegetarians - Vegan Celebrities - by HappyCow
Famous Vegetarians, actors, actresses, and other vegan movies stars and musicians.

Thanks for visiting my lens about Benjamin Franklin. 

I didn't think much about Benjamin Franklin until I decided to read his autobiography a few years ago. What I learned about him impressed me deeply. I found new respect for this man and was inspired to create this lens to focus on him and his amazing life and accomplishments.

Your comments are welcome! 

...I look forward to hearing from you

What do you think of Benjamin Franklin?

submit

 

This page created by Linda Jo Martin of:
Perspectives on Writing
Page copy protected against web site content infringement by Copyscape

More about me... 

Lensmaster LindaJM has been a member since June 11 2007, has rated 1,562 lenses, favorited 676, and has created 110 lenses from scratch. This member's top-ranked page is "Drugging Foster Children". See all my lenses

My Bio

I live in the Klamath River Valley of Northern California. I share my life with my partner, Bob. We like to watch movies at home on DVD, swim, hike, and prospect for gold in the Siskiyou Mountains.

You can learn more about me by reading my lensography or this page about my novels.

I have two other Squidoo accounts:
1. Politics - AmericanCitizen
2. Spirituality - Geniyyah


Senior Squids
Are you a Squidoo lensmaster over age fifty?
Come join the Senior Squids!





Check out these great lenses...

lens image
Image and Video Mentor
Welcome! I'm Linda Martin, your Image and Video Mentor here at Squidoo. I love working with images and know you will too once you have the right software and a few simple instructions. This lens lists sites where you can find free images on the web.... view lens
lens image
Ten New Lenses by LindaJM
Only the newest, the fledgling, the fresh out of the box lenses made by me, LindaJM. This page shows the lenses I've made most recently. Often I've gone to bio pages of other lensmasters and wondered what they've done most recently. This lens is my... view lens
lens image
Writing Topics from A to Z
Ever felt writing-obsessed? If you're a writer, most likely you'll identify with that term. We who write are usually thinking or learning about writing when we're not actually doing some writing. I like to write novels, but in my spare time I write... view lens
lens image
Geniyyah's Lensography
Hello, I'm Geniyyah, the spirituality-seeking alter-ego of lensmaster LindaJM. I've brought this series of lenses into their own account because I want to keep them clustered together for clarity's sake. You see, in the very long list of... view lens
lens image
An American Citizen's Lensography
We're such a diverse bunch of people, I don't think anyone can narrow it down to what exactly American citizens think of their country, their government, their land. So take this as just one solitary American citizen crying out in the midst o... view lens

My social media sites... 

by LindaJM

I'm a novelist living in the Klamath River Valley in Northern California. From 2002 through 2007 I owned a web design business. Now I make money by bl... (more)

Explore related pages

Create a Lens!