1787

It was formally called: The Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery and the Relief of Free Negroes Unlawfully Held in Bondage. Even though Franklin had owned slaves and used his newspaper to advertise runaway slaves, he had become a good friend of Anthony Benezet late in life. Benezet changed Franklin’s outlook on slavery which had been one of indifference making it one of activism. After Benezet died, Franklin took over as President of the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society to call an end to slavery. Franklin wrote several petitions to Congress in the last years of his life.