William Franklin's London burial highlights American Revolution divisions

The burial site of William Franklin at St. Pancras Old Church in London serves as a historical reminder of the internal divisions caused by the American Revolution. As the eldest son of Benjamin Franklin, William chose to remain loyal to the British Crown, a decision that forced him to leave America and severed his relationship with his father.

Historians note that the Revolution functioned as a civil war that fractured families and friendships. James Taub, an associate curator at the Museum of the American Revolution, suggests that the disagreements inherent in the nation's founding are part of an ongoing historical process.