William, Benjamin's son and governor of New Jersey, is horrified when he finds out Benjamin sent the letters. Benjamin was then mocked and fired from his position of colonial Postmaster General by the Privy Council. Soon after on December 19, 1774, Franklin's wife died. When Franklin returned to the colonies, he was immediately elected a member of the Second Continental Congress and sent on a diplomatic mission to France. Something about Franklin being a good negotiator, making friends. Franklin was able to gain a lot of French support. He “secured military and diplomatic alliances with France in 1778” (Benjamin Franklin | Biography, Inventions, Books, American Revolution, and Facts.). Franklin developed gout and kidney stones. Franklin also helped negotiate a peace treaty with Britain in 1783 known as The Treaty of Paris. Franklin then returned to the colonies in 1785. He helped the states ratify the U.S. Constitution and elect George Washington as the 1st US president. Franklin then focused on the issue of slavery. Franklin supported the idea of emancipation and even suggested “educate free blacks and their children and to facilitate their progress toward good citizenship” (The New