Benjamin Franklin, Swimmer

This book uses Benjamin Franklin’s love of swimming to examine his life, times, and strong, inventive personality through a lens that historians have previously overlooked. He interacted with family, friends, and acquaintances through swimming, which also offered him an entree into British society Primary sources for this book include Franklin’s writings, that of his contemporaries, and other artistic and archaeological sources. When Franklin’s grandson Benjamin Franklin Bache was in his care in France, he swam in the Seine. Bache’s Journal constitutes another important primary source for this book. Franklin’s advice about water safety and his conviction that everyone should learn to swim because it promotes health, hygiene, and safety is still relevant. Illus.