A man whose name will forever be remembered not only in American history, but in world history, Benjamin Franklin was the true embodiment of a Renaissance man. His achievements have fostered social, political and scientific progress in many countries, and his influence has touched the lives of millions of people. Especially in America, it is common to see him as the great leader who was forever dedicated to the revolution, or the man who lived and breathed American independence, or perhaps the wisest and most level-headed patriot America had ever seen. He was truly a crucial asset to the American Revolution, and his dedication to the struggle for recognized independence was clearly visible, both verbally and in his writings. He was even given the nickname “The First American,” high praise for this founding father. What many fail to realize is that Benjamin Franklin was, during his involvement with American politics until the late 1760s, in fact, one of the strongest realists of the era. His ties to both the British Parliament and the French government were very strong, much stronger than any ties he might have had to American patriot leaders. They were not just his closest friends, but men he truly held up as an example of what American leaders should be. Although he was a self-made man, he identified himself as “elitist” and hardly attuned to colonial patriotism; its essential goal was to unite North American colonists and their rulers three thousand miles away as one cohesive group of citizens loyal to the crown. It was due to a series of events, including the Grafton government and its disagreements with the Stamp Act, that his relations with the British government worsened over time, and his views began dramatically in... middle of paper... .second Secretary of the Treasury, to become a junior minister in the Grafton government. The offer was attractive for an indefinite time and would allow him to reside permanently in Britain and, as he passionately described it, “will entitle me to something better here”. At a time when Franklin was struggling to find a place to fit in, he saw this opportunity as a godsend and stated that he would have accepted the position if it had been offered to him without question. All he had to do was remain charming to the Lords and wait. The Boston Massacre proved extremely premature for Franklin's career, and Franklin, who considered Boston his true home, expressed sympathy for those affected. After realizing that it was mediocre men who were being targeted, the kind of man he had been, Franklin came to the aid of his brothers and even went so far as to call the British soldiers "detestable murderers”..”