Benjamin Franklin

“I don't believe I've had the pleasure, Mario. I'm Ben Franklin -- publisher, scientist, occasional inventor. Please, have one of my newspapers. You'll find it worthwhile reading.”

—Benjamin Franklin, Mario's Time Machine

Benjamin Franklin was a Founding Father of the United States, renowned for numerous accomplishments, including being a member of the Committee of Five that drafted the Declaration of Independence and later signing that same document on July 4, 1776. In Mario's Time Machine, the Declaration is stolen by a time-travelling Bowser, and Mario later brings back to Philadelphia in an attempt to return it, leading to Mario and Benjamin encountering each other.

History

Mario's Time Machine

Benjamin Franklin in the SNES release of Mario's Time Machine

According to Mario's Time Machine, Benjamin Franklin lived in Philadelphia, working at the publishing house of his Newspaper, the Pennsylvania Gazette. He is visited by Mario while he is printing the newspaper's newest issue, which covers today's signing of the Declaration of Independence. As Mario is in possession of the Declaration but does not know his importance, he asks him what is going on. Benjamin, surprised by his lack of knowledge, tells Mario that America is attempting to secede from Great Britain, and that he needs to hurry to Independence Hall. The two then introduce themselves to each other, with Benjamin proclaiming that he is a publisher, a scientist, and an "occasional inventor," while also giving Mario a copy of his newspaper. Mario then recognizes him as a Founding Father, although Franklin doesn't recognize the term, instead referring to himself as the Pennsylvanian representative to the Continental Congress. He then realizes that he lost his glasses (while also boasting that he "invented bifocals"); his Spectacles can be obtained from a worker at a nearby stable, and when returned, he thanks Mario. He then explains that he never signs anything before reading it, even when written by someone like Thomas Jefferson (referencing how Jefferson wrote the document's first draft, although the final rendition featured numerous changes from the other members of the Committee, Franklin included). Mario then asks Franklin if Jefferson also wrote America's Constitution, to which he replies that America does not have a constitution yet but that the Constitution and the Declaration may be confused with each other in the future. He then elaborates more on Jefferson's backstory, leading to Mario to show Franklin the Declaration in his possession. Franklin immediately begs Mario to bring it to Independence Hall immediately so that it can be signed.