When Benjamin Franklin’s older brother, James, used his anti-establishment newspaper to criticize the Crown’s lax attitude towards pirating along the Atlantic coast, he was tossed in jail. Until his brother’s release, young Benjamin took control of the newspaper—an experience he certainly benefited from, professionally speaking, evidenced by his future industriousness. The incident no doubt left an indelible mark on him personally as well. His brother, to whom he possessed a loyal—though sometimes tumultuous—bond, had been thrown into jail by his government, a bond in active disunion.
The pirates Benjamin Franklin’s brother wanted dealt with more strictly also held a certain disregard for loyalty. When taking on new shipmates, either through force or otherwise, these pirates inquired as to whether the man in question was married and/or had a family. They didn’t want their men to possess bonds pulling them back home. Considering the nature of their activity, this certainly made sense.
This disregard for familial loyalty would sometimes come back around to bite the pirates, however. Men learned of this particular line of inquiry and eventually began lying when questioned about family ties. And while this lie forced them into piracy for the time being, it also kept them alive. If fortunate enough to either escape or be brought to trial, they could repay their captors in kind by playing the role of snitch or sell-out, likely sparing their lives once again.
When the Crown did eventually begin clamping down on piracy, Alexander Spotswood, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, proved to be up to task, while others, such as Governor Charles Eden of North Carolina, proceeded with appeasement. But Spotswood may have performed his job too well. As his fame grew throughout Virginia so too did his personal power and wealth, something the Crown did not appear to be particularly comfortable with—likely playing a role in his eventual removal from office.
Fortunately for Spotswood, as well as the soon-to-be-states in development, his service to the internal governance of the colonies did not cease for good when removed from office. Several years after his removal, he was appointed Postmaster General for British America. The man he chose to be one of his closest partners in this endeavor was none other than Benjamin Franklin. The two men immediately improved the mail-service of the colonies, turning it into one the most efficient operations of its day.
Despite both Franklin and Spotswood being wronged by the Crown, they continued to work for it, even improving upon its efficiency. At face value, it appears as if both men were willing to let bygones be bygones. Ultimately, however, theirs is not simply a forgive and forget kind of story. Instead, they took their time, became elites within their communities and abroad. And in this gradual accumulation of professional and personal capital, Benjamin Franklin became a primary player in the ultimate act of disloyalty: severance from the Crown.
