Deborah Read

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Deborah Read (February 14, 1708 – December 24, 1774) was the spouse of Benjamin Franklin, a prominent inventor, printer, thinker, and revolutionary.

Franklin proposed to fifteen-year-old Read in 1724, but her mother would not consent to the marriage, citing Franklin's pending trip to England and financial instability. While Franklin was away in England, having been stranded there by Sir William Keith's failure to follow through on promises of support, Read married John Rogers, who fled soon after so Benjamin and Deborah were not free to marry formally.John Rogers disappeared into history, after spending Deborah's dowry, incurring much debt, and basically using the marriage to further his own schemes. So when Franklin returned, they began a common-law marriage in 1730. They had two children together: Francis Folger Franklin (October 20, 1732 - November 21, 1736) died of smallpox at age four, and Sarah Franklin Bache, called Sally. Together they also raised William Franklin, Franklin's illegitimate son and future Colonial Governor of New Jersey.

Deborah Read Franklin died of a stroke in 1774, while Benjamin was on an extended trip to England. She did not accompany him on his frequent trips to Europe due to a phobia of ocean travel. While she knew of his philandering across the ocean, she remained a loyal and supportive wife for half a century.