"Franklin's first diplomatic mission to England in 1757 was not to protest Royal overreach, but to demand taxes on vast tracts of Pennsylvania land."
"The Seven Years' War had started disastrously for the colonies, necessitating funds to fend off French-allied raids against Pennsylvania's western settlements."
"Franklin's negotiations in England lasted nearly a year, and he wrote a letter to Joseph Galloway outlining the state of these negotiations."
"Franklin returned home in 1762 with many friends in England's intellectual circles, but only a partial victory regarding the Proprietorship issue."
Benjamin Franklin's initial diplomatic mission to England in 1757 aimed to impose taxes on large landholdings in Pennsylvania. The Seven Years' War necessitated funds to protect against French-allied raids. Franklin contested the Penn family's claim of tax exemption on their estates. His negotiations continued for nearly a year, culminating in a letter to Joseph Galloway in June 1758. Franklin returned in 1762 with some success in building relationships in England, though the issue of Proprietorship remained unresolved until the American Revolution. Jay Snider's collection of Franklin memorabilia is set for auction.
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