How Benjamin Franklin Used Pseudonyms to Speak and Write Freely

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Benjamin Franklin, one of America's most celebrated Founding Fathers, frequently adopted fictional alter egos throughout his life. These pseudonyms allowed him to express opinions and ideas that he might not have been able to publish under his real name. Writing under assumed identities gave Franklin a level of creative and political freedom uncommon for public figures of his era. A Smithsonian Magazine piece explores how this practice of using pen names may have been among the most liberating tools Franklin ever employed.

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