ABSTRACT
Benjamin Franklin even conceived of the transition from tradesman to gentleman in racial terms. The printing profession was not a particularly glamorous one. He never tried to hide the fact that William was a bastard, and children born out of wedlock were certainly common enough for Franklin's youthful indiscretions not to taint his future status. Franklin also benefited from the sexual double standards of the day that largely excused male sexual transgressions while punishing those of females. He drafted new regulations for the night watch, and organized the Union Fire Company to better protect the largely wooden Philadelphia from fire. Franklin started building his business by mimicking and then undermining his competitor, Andrew Bradford. He secured two key positions in 1737 that once belonged to Bradford and that helped him grow his business: official printer of the province of Pennsylvania, and deputy postmaster in Philadelphia.
