Benjamin Franklin's Alter Egos Gave Him the Most Freedom

Benjamin Franklin's many inventions and discoveries, from the lightning rod to the Gulf Stream chart, are well known. But his most ingenious creation was himself—or rather, his many selves. Through personas like Silence Dogood, Richard Saunders, and Sidi Mehemet Ibrahim, Franklin critiqued authority, championed social causes, and satirized his opponents with a freedom his own name never allowed. This article explores how these pen names shaped his legacy and enabled his boldest ideas.