Benjamin Franklin, Swimmer

Using Benjamin Franklin’s love of swimming, this illustrated publication examines his life, times, and strong, inventive personality through a lens that historians have previously overlooked. Through swimming, Franklin interacted with family, friends, and acquaintances and gained entree into British society. Incorporating primary sources, including Franklin’s own writings, artistic and archaeological sources, and the journal his grandson, Benjamin Franklin Bache, kept while under Franklin’s care in France, this book paints a vivid picture of a lesser-known side of the Founding Father. With his advice about water safety and his conviction that everyone should learn to swim because it promotes health, hygiene, and safety, this work speaks to a modern audience while offering historic insights not found anywhere else.