Front of a letter from Benjamin Franklin in London to his wife in Philadelphia, circa 1765-1774.
Dr. Franklin was appointed Deputy Postmaster General for North America in 1753. He moved to London in 1764, ostensibly to conduct post office business, but spent much of his time lobbying members of Parliament on behalf of the colonies. The London post office honored Franklin’s free franking privilege, which Franklin used to send a political message in his signature “B Free Franklin”. Franklin returned to Philadelphia in 1775 after having been removed from his position for insubordination.
