From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Bache, 6 April 1773
To Richard Bache
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress
London, April 6. 1773.
Dear Son,
The Bearer Mr. Robert Hare visits Philadelphia with a View of establishing himself there or at New York in the Porter-brewing Business. He bears an excellent Character among his Friends here as a very honest, ingenious, amiable Man.6 I therefore recommend him warmly to your Civilities; and doubt not but you will give him the best Advice and Information in your Power. My Love to Benny-boy. I am ever Your affectionate Father
B Franklin
Mr Bache
per Loxley
6. Robert Hare (1752–1812) was a young Londoner destined for considerable prominence in Philadelphia, where he arrived in June, 1773. Two and a half years later he married Margaret Willing, of the Shippen clan, and by the time the British occupied the city in 1777 he was sufficiently Americanized to flee to Virginia. He was subsequently a trustee of the University of Pennsylvania and speaker of the state assembly. Charles P. Keith, The Provincial Councillors of Pennsylvania … (Philadelphia, 1883), p. 129 of first pagination. For his letter of thanks to BF see below, Oct. 28. This connection, we cannot resist adding, was subsequently useful to Hare’s son of the same name, a famous chemist, who late in life secured endorsement of his electrical theories from BF’s ghost. DAB.