10. Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin, renowned for his role as a Founding Father and author of “The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin,” initially accumulated wealth and social standing through the ownership and sale of enslaved individuals. In the 1730s, he purchased his first enslaved person, Joseph, and later owned others, including Peter and Jemima. Franklin’s newspaper, the Pennsylvania Gazette, published advertisements for the sale of enslaved people, reflecting his direct involvement in the institution. However, by the late 1750s, Franklin’s perspective shifted. He became an active abolitionist, advocating for the education and integration of African Americans into society. In 1787, he was elected president of the Pennsylvania Abolition Society, and in 1790, he petitioned Congress for the abolition of slavery, marking a significant transformation in his views and actions regarding the institution (archives.gov).
