Francis Folger Franklin, was born a year later. 1737 Appointed Postmaster of Philadelphia, his service continued until 1753. William Franklin FRSE (22 February 1730 – 17 November 1813) was an American-born attorney, soldier, politician, and colonial administrator. He was the oldest legitimate child of Benjamin Franklin, then the publisher of the Pennsylvania Gazette, and Deborah Read. Franklin was appointed clerk of the Pennsylvania Assembly. His son, Francis Folger, died of smallpox at age 4. He had never been much interested in children, but after the birth of Francis Folger Franklin, on October 20, 1732, he wrote that they were “the most delightful Cares in the World.” 2. Description above from the Wikipedia article Francis Folger Franklin, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia. Francis' baptism took place on September 16, 1733, while Franklin was away, at the Anglican Christ Church in Philadelphia, which Deborah attended.Francis, affectionately called "Franky" by his parents, was described as a "precocious, curious and special" child by Franklin, "a golden child, his smiles brighter, his babblings more telling and his tricks more magical than all the other infants in the colonies combined" by historian of medicine Howard Markel and as "a most engaging child, of singular beauty and wonderful knowingness" by biographer James Parton. In 1772, Franklin's sister Jane Franklin Mecom, wrote him with news of his grandsons. He hadn’t been inoculated against smallpox yet. However, the choice of having his son inoculated was a difficult one for Franklin, as Francis could die either way. Francis Folger Franklin. Calculated relationship. The couple had two children. Some accounts argue that William's birth was legitimized sometime after Francis' death, possibly due to the lack of an heir.The baby's middle name, Folger, was the maiden name of Franklin's mother, Abiah. Both Franklin and Deborah were devastated, and their devastation was compounded because they were unsure they could have another child. By all accounts, Francis was doted on by his parents; his portrait was painted while he was still a baby. Franklin also had an illegitimate son, William (born c. 1730–31), whose mother may have been a maid in the household, perhaps a woman named Barbara, or even Deborah Read herself. This I mention for the sake of the parents who omit that operation, on the supposition that they should never forgive themselves if a child died under it; my example showing that the regret may be the same either way, and that, therefore, the safer should be chosen. Francis was buried on the same day he died, his tombstone reading "The delight of all who knew him. —Wikipedia Parents: Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790) Deborah Read Franklin (1708 - 1774) Siblings: William Franklin (1731 - 1813)* Francis Folger Franklin (1732 - 1736) Sarah Franklin Bache (1743 - 1808)*. Given that Franklin considered Francis to be a "healthy child who thrived from the start," and "very clever," he advertised for a tutor for his two sons in December 1734. In 1736, however, Francis contracted smallpox and died on November 21 of that year, without having been inoculated. 1737 Appointed Postmaster of Philadelphia, his service continued until 1753. Lieutenant-Colonel James Gordon , the third and last Laird of the barony of Ellon, was a British Army officer who fought in the American Revolutionary War. Francis Folger Franklin had 2 siblings. 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